Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol with the Intel Core i7-14700F and AMD Radeon RX 580 produces a performance profile dominated by the graphics card. The benchmark data shows a clear progression of frame rates as resolution changes, with the CPU providing ample headroom. This analysis examines the measured results, focusing on how the components interact under the game's load.

Resolution Scaling

Resolution scaling reveals the RX 580 as the primary bottleneck. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 on High settings, the average frame rate drops from 53 FPS to 39 FPS, a 26% reduction. The scaling continues to 3840x2160, where the average falls to 25 FPS, marking a 53% decrease from the 1080p baseline. This pattern is consistent with a GPU-bound scenario, where pixel throughput becomes the limiting factor.

The Low settings preset shows a similar trend. At 1920x1080, the combo achieves 85 FPS, which drops to 62 FPS at 2560x1440 and 40 FPS at 3840x2160. The performance loss from 1080p to 4K is 53%, identical to the High preset's proportional decline. This consistency indicates that the GPU's compute and memory subsystems are saturated regardless of the visual fidelity settings.

The Medium preset provides more granular data, with min and max frame rates recorded. At 1920x1080, the average is 60 FPS with a range of 51 to 69 FPS. At 2560x1440, the average drops to 44 FPS (38-51 FPS), and at 3840x2160, it falls to 29 FPS (24-33 FPS). The frame time consistency, as evidenced by the narrow min-max spread, suggests stable performance without major stuttering events.

Ultra settings demonstrate the steepest scaling curve. The 1920x1080 average of 40 FPS falls to 29 FPS at 2560x1440 and 19 FPS at 3840x2160. The 4K result represents a 52.5% drop from 1080p, aligning with the other presets' scaling behavior. This uniformity across all settings confirms that the RX 580's rendering pipeline, not the CPU or memory subsystem, dictates the frame rate at each resolution.

The data points to a GPU-limited configuration. The i7-14700F, with its 20 cores and 28 threads, is not the constraint at any tested resolution. The frame rate differences between presets at the same resolution (e.g., 85 FPS Low vs 53 FPS High at 1080p) are entirely attributable to the GPU's workload. The CPU's role becomes more relevant only at lower resolutions and settings, where the higher frame rates could potentially approach its limits, but the data shows no evidence of CPU-bound behavior.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 580's specifications directly explain the measured results. It features 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The 2304 shading units operate at base and boost clocks of 1257 MHz and 1340 MHz, respectively. These figures position the GPU solidly in the mid-range, with a PassMark G3D score of 8813 and a percentile rank of 53 among all GPUs.

The VRAM capacity and bandwidth become critical at higher resolutions. At 3840x2160, the 8 GB frame buffer is sufficient for the game's assets, but the 256.0 GB/s bandwidth limits texture fetch and fill rates. The pixel rate of 42.88 GPixel/s and texture rate of 193.0 GTexel/s are modest by modern standards, and the 32 ROPs cannot keep pace with the pixel workload demanded by 4K rendering.

The GPU's benchmark scores contextualize its performance. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1005 is low, indicating weak DirectX 12 performance. Geekbench scores show Vulkan at 45173 and OpenCL at 37453, suggesting that the architecture handles compute workloads better than rasterization under modern APIs. The PassMark DirectX 11 score of 60 versus DirectX 12's 43 highlights a regression in API efficiency, which may affect Lockdown Protocol if it uses DX12 features.

The RX 580's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER, which scores 12986 (0.4% higher), and the RTX 3050 Ti Mobile at 12940 (0.1% higher). The delta percentages are negligible, meaning the RX 580 performs within a 1% margin of these alternatives. This parity explains why the measured FPS values are typical for this class of GPU, with no unexpected spikes or dips.

At 1920x1080, the GPU delivers playable frame rates across all presets, with Low at 85 FPS and High at 53 FPS. The Medium preset's 60 FPS average with a 51 FPS minimum is adequate for smooth gameplay. However, the 4K results, ranging from 19 FPS on Ultra to 40 FPS on Low, fall below the threshold for comfortable play. The GPU's role is clearly the deciding factor in these outcomes.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i7-14700F and AMD Radeon RX 580 ranks 3384 out of 3714 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the bottom 9% of all configurations, a direct consequence of the GPU's mid-range position. The rank reflects the measured FPS across all resolutions and settings, weighted toward the average performance.

The CPU's benchmark scores indicate it is not the limiting factor. The i7-14700F has a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35122 and a single-core score of 4958, placing it in the 91st percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X, which scores 53288 (0.6% higher), and the AMD EPYC 7313P at 53206 (0.8% higher). The CPU's avgBenchmarkScore of 53620 is competitive with these high-end parts.

In contrast, the GPU's avgBenchmarkScore of 12928 places it in the 53rd percentile. The delta between the CPU's near-top-tier ranking and the GPU's median ranking creates a significant bottleneck. The combo rank of 3384 out of 3714 reflects this imbalance, as the GPU drags down what would otherwise be a high-performing system.

The data shows that pairing this CPU with a more capable GPU would likely improve the rank substantially. However, within this specific configuration, the measured FPS values are consistent with the GPU's standalone benchmarks. The combo rank is a holistic measure, and the low position is driven entirely by the RX 580's performance ceiling.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the measured FPS values are as follows: Low averages 85 FPS, Medium averages 60 FPS (min 51, max 69), High averages 53 FPS, and Ultra averages 40 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 45 FPS, representing a 53% reduction in performance from the lowest to highest settings. The Medium preset's min-to-max spread of 18 FPS indicates moderate frame time variance.

At 2560x1440, the results are: Low averages 62 FPS, Medium averages 44 FPS (min 38, max 51), High averages 39 FPS, and Ultra averages 29 FPS. The reduction from 1080p to 1440p is consistent across presets, with Low dropping 27%, Medium dropping 27%, High dropping 26%, and Ultra dropping 28%. This uniformity reinforces the GPU-bound nature of the workload.

At 3840x2160, the averages are: Low at 40 FPS, Medium at 29 FPS (min 24, max 33), High at 25 FPS, and Ultra at 19 FPS. The 4K results show a tighter grouping, with only a 21 FPS difference between Low and Ultra. This compression occurs because the GPU is operating near its maximum capacity, and additional settings have diminishing returns.

The Medium preset's min and max values provide insight into frame pacing. At 1080p, the 51 FPS minimum is 85% of the 60 FPS average, indicating occasional dips but no severe stutters. At 1440p, the 38 FPS minimum is 86% of the 44 FPS average, showing similar consistency. At 4K, the 24 FPS minimum is 83% of the 29 FPS average, with the 33 FPS max suggesting brief periods of better performance.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data supports specific settings choices based on target frame rates. For 1920x1080, the Medium preset is the optimal choice, delivering a 60 FPS average with a 51 FPS minimum. This provides smooth gameplay without sacrificing too much visual quality. The High preset's 53 FPS is also playable, but the 7 FPS difference may not justify the visual improvement.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset is recommended, as it is the only setting that achieves above 60 FPS. The 62 FPS average provides a comfortable margin, while the Medium preset's 44 FPS may be acceptable for less demanding players. The High preset at 39 FPS is borderline, and Ultra at 29 FPS is not recommended for competitive play.

At 3840x2160, no preset achieves ideal performance. The Low preset's 40 FPS is the only option above 30 FPS, making it the sole viable choice. The Medium preset's 29 FPS average is playable but not smooth, and the High and Ultra presets at 25 and 19 FPS, respectively, are below acceptable thresholds.

The data suggests that the best experience is achieved at 1920x1080 with Medium settings, balancing frame rate and visual fidelity. For players prioritizing frame rate over quality, the Low preset at 1080p offers 85 FPS, which is excellent for fast-paced FPS gameplay. The Medium preset provides the best overall experience, as it maintains a 60 FPS average while avoiding the visual penalties of Low settings.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows 1920x1080 as the optimal resolution. The Low preset achieves 85 FPS, Medium achieves 60 FPS, and High achieves 53 FPS. At 2560x1440, only the Low preset exceeds 60 FPS, and at 3840x2160, all presets fall below 40 FPS.

Q: How does the RX 580 perform relative to its closest competitors?

A: The RX 580 has an average benchmark score of 12928, which is 0.1% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile and 0.4% lower than the GTX 1660 SUPER. The AMD Radeon 740M scores 0.5% higher, and the AMD FirePro W5100 scores 0.6% higher. These deltas are negligible in real-world terms.

Q: Is the Core i7-14700F the bottleneck in this configuration?

A: No. The CPU ranks in the 91st percentile with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35122. The GPU, ranking in the 53rd percentile, is the limiting factor. The combo ranks 3384 out of 3714, with the low position attributable to the GPU's performance ceiling.

Q: What frame rates can I expect at 2560x1440 with High settings?

A: The measured average FPS is 39, with no min or max values recorded. This is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, and the Low preset is recommended for this resolution.

Q: Does the Medium preset provide consistent frame times?

A: Yes. At 1920x1080, the range is 51 to 69 FPS around a 60 FPS average. At 2560x1440, the range is 38 to 51 FPS around a 44 FPS average. At 3840x2160, the range is 24 to 33 FPS around a 29 FPS average. The min values are consistently 83-86% of the average.

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

A: The Low preset averages 85 FPS, while Ultra averages 40 FPS. This represents a 53% reduction in performance, or a 45 FPS gap. The Medium preset at 60 FPS and High at 53 FPS sit between these extremes.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700F provides substantial processing power that goes largely untapped in this configuration. With 20 cores, 28 threads, and boost clock up to 5.40 GHz, the CPU is capable of high frame rates in CPU-bound scenarios. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35122 and single-core score of 4958 demonstrate strong performance across both heavily threaded and lightly threaded workloads.

The CPU's benchmark results show it outperforms its nearest rivals. The Intel Xeon 6505P scores 53701 (0.2% higher), while the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X scores 53288 (0.6% lower). The AMD EPYC 7313P scores 53206, which is 0.8% lower. The i7-14700F's avgBenchmarkScore of 53620 places it in the 91st percentile, indicating it can handle any modern game's CPU requirements.

In Lockdown Protocol, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and physics data. The measured FPS values show that even at 1920x1080 Low, where the GPU produces 85 FPS, the CPU does not become a bottleneck. The frame rates scale consistently with resolution, a hallmark of GPU-bound performance. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the 1080p results would show less variation between presets, as the CPU would cap the frame rate regardless of graphics settings.

The CPU's 33 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB per-core L2 cache provide low-latency access to game data. The dual-channel memory support for DDR4 and DDR5 offers flexibility in system configuration. The 65W TDP and Gen 5 PCIe with 16 lanes ensure the GPU receives data quickly, though the RX 580's PCIe 3.0 x16 interface may limit transfer speeds in some scenarios.

The benchmark data indicates that the CPU contributes minimally to the observed performance differences. The i7-14700F's single-core performance, as evidenced by the Geekbench single-core score of 2429, is sufficient for the game's logic thread. The multi-core score of 19620 ensures background tasks do not interfere with gameplay. The CPU's capabilities are well beyond what the RX 580 can utilize, making it a future-proof component for upgrades.