Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol is a fast-paced FPS that demands a balanced system, and the Intel Core i7-13700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER delivers a strong showing. The data indicates this combination is well-equipped for high-refresh-rate gaming, though the balance of load shifts predictably as resolution and settings change. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, focusing on where the GPU and CPU each take the lead and what that means for your in-game experience.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate data reveals a classic scaling pattern where the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck as resolution increases. At 1920x1080, the combo produces extremely high frame rates, with an average of 307.1 FPS on Low settings. Moving to 2560x1440, that same Low setting average drops to 228 FPS, a reduction of 79.1 FPS. The trend continues at 3840x2160, where the Low setting average falls further to 147.5 FPS. This steep decline from 1080p to 4K indicates that the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER is being pushed to its limits at higher pixel counts, while the CPU has ample headroom to feed the GPU at lower resolutions.

The scaling from Medium to Ultra settings reinforces this GPU-bound behavior. At 1080p, the drop from Medium (216.8 FPS) to Ultra (142.8 FPS) is significant, showing that the graphics card is doing most of the heavy lifting. At 4K, the same settings comparison shows a more compressed range: Medium averages 101.4 FPS, while Ultra averages 68.5 FPS. The frame rate penalty for enabling Ultra over Medium is 33.3 FPS at 4K, compared to a 74 FPS penalty at 1080p. This suggests that at higher resolutions, the GPU is already saturated, and the additional load from Ultra settings has a proportionally smaller but still noticeable impact on the final frame rate.

Notably, the gap between Low and High settings at each resolution is substantial. At 1440p, Low averages 228 FPS versus High's 138.7 FPS, a difference of 89.3 FPS. This large delta indicates that visual fidelity comes at a high performance cost, and players targeting the highest refresh rates may need to prioritize lower settings. The data shows that 4K Ultra is the most demanding scenario, pushing the combo to an average of 68.5 FPS, which is still playable but well below the high-refresh territory seen at 1080p.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER is the clear performance driver in this pairing, especially as resolution climbs. The card features 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 672.3 GB/s. This memory configuration is sufficient to handle the textures and assets in Lockdown Protocol at 4K without appearing to be a limiting factor, as evidenced by the playable frame rates at that resolution. The GPU's boost clock of 2610 MHz and base clock of 2340 MHz, built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with 8448 shading units, deliver the raw compute power needed for this game's visual effects.

The benchmark results for the GPU place it in the 86th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 48704. Compared to its nearest rivals, the data shows it is slightly slower than the NVIDIA CMP 50HX, which has an average score of 49071, a delta of -0.7%. However, it outperforms the NVIDIA RTX A2000, which scores 47915, by 1.6%. These scores confirm that the 4070 Ti SUPER sits in a competitive mid-to-high tier, and its performance in Lockdown Protocol reflects that standing.

The scaling from 1080p to 4K demonstrates the GPU's workload. At 1080p Low, the card renders 307.1 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, it drops to 68.5 FPS. This performance curve is characteristic of a GPU that has sufficient memory and bandwidth but is ultimately bound by its shader and clock capabilities at higher resolutions. The card's 44.10 TFLOPS FP32 performance is substantial, yet the data shows that even this level of compute power is taxed by the demands of 4K Ultra settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-13700K provides a robust foundation for this combo, ensuring that the GPU is not starved for data. With 16 cores and 24 threads, this processor offers significant multi-threading capability, which is reflected in its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 39000. The CPU's boost clock of 5.40 GHz is a key asset, as it helps maintain high frame rates in scenarios where the game's engine relies on single-threaded performance; its 3DMark single-thread score is 1136.

The CPU's percentile ranking among all processors is 93, with an average benchmark score of 47282. Its closest rival, the Intel Core i7-13700KF, scores 47334, a negligible delta of -0.1%, indicating they are effectively identical in performance. The AMD EPYC 4364P and Intel Core i9-12900F are also close, with scores of 47131 and 47081, respectively, showing that the 13700K sits right at the top of this comparison group.

In Lockdown Protocol, the CPU's role becomes more apparent at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 307.1 FPS, a figure that likely approaches the CPU's maximum frame rate output potential. At 4K, the CPU has significantly more headroom, as the GPU becomes the bottleneck. The data suggests that the 13700K is more than capable of handling the game's logic and physics, allowing the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER to operate at its full potential without being held back by processing delays.

How This Combo Ranks

When looking at the overall picture, this specific combination of the Intel Core i7-13700K and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER achieves a combo rank of 155 out of 1637 tested combinations in Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the top 9.5% of all tested systems, indicating that it is a high-performance pairing that delivers results well above the median. The data confirms that this is not a mid-tier setup but rather a strong contender for high-end gaming.

The rank is a holistic measure, taking into account performance across all resolutions and settings. Given the strong frame rates at 1440p and 1080p, and respectable playability at 4K, the combo's high rank is justified. It demonstrates that the balance between the 13700K's processing power and the 4070 Ti SUPER's graphics capabilities is well-suited for a demanding FPS title like Lockdown Protocol. While it is not the absolute top combination, it sits comfortably in the upper echelon, making it a reliable choice for players seeking high frame rates without needing to compromise heavily on visual quality.

Measured FPS Breakdown

Here is the exact performance data for this combo, broken down by resolution and settings:

• 1920x1080 (1080p)
• Low: 307.1 FPS
• Medium: 216.8 FPS
• High: 192.8 FPS
• Ultra: 142.8 FPS

• 2560x1440 (1440p)
• Low: 228 FPS
• Medium: 160.5 FPS
• High: 138.7 FPS
• Ultra: 107 FPS

• 3840x2160 (4K)
• Low: 147.5 FPS
• Medium: 101.4 FPS
• High: 91.6 FPS
• Ultra: 68.5 FPS

The 1080p results are exceptionally high, making this combo ideal for competitive play on high-refresh-rate monitors. At 1440p, the system still delivers excellent performance, with even Ultra settings averaging over 100 FPS. 4K performance is more demanding, but the combo manages to keep all settings except Ultra above the 90 FPS mark, offering a smooth experience for most players.

FAQ

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

A: Yes, it can. The measured FPS at 3840x2160 ranges from 147.5 FPS on Low to 68.5 FPS on Ultra, meaning you can achieve playable frame rates at all settings, though Ultra will require a monitor with adaptive sync for the smoothest experience.

Q: What is the best resolution for high-refresh-rate monitors?

A: At 1920x1080, the combo delivers over 142 FPS on all settings, peaking at 307.1 FPS on Low. At 2560x1440, it consistently stays above 107 FPS, making either resolution a great fit for 144Hz or faster displays.

Q: How does the CPU influence performance at 1080p?

A: The Intel Core i7-13700K, with its 5.40 GHz boost clock, is likely the limiting factor at 1080p Low, where the frame rate hits 307.1 FPS. This shows the CPU is capable of driving very high frame rates, but the GPU has less work at this resolution.

Q: Is the GPU or CPU more important for this game's performance?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary driver. The frame rate drops significantly from 1080p to 4K (e.g., from 192.8 to 91.6 FPS on High), which is a clear sign of GPU-bound scaling. The CPU's role is to ensure the GPU is fed, which it does effectively.

Q: How does this combo rank against other systems in this game?

A: It ranks 155th out of 1637 tested combinations, placing it in the top 9.5% of all tested systems. This makes it a high-tier performer in Lockdown Protocol.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, Low settings average 228 FPS, while Ultra settings average 107 FPS. This is a difference of 121 FPS, indicating that visual quality comes at a high performance cost and should be adjusted based on your refresh rate.