Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol, a 2024 FPS title, presents a demanding workload that scales significantly with both resolution and graphical presets. This analysis examines the measured performance of the Intel Core i7-14700F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER across 1080p, 1440p, and 4K resolutions. The data indicates that this combination, while ranking in the lower third of tested configurations, offers a nuanced experience where the GPU becomes the dominant constraint at higher resolutions, while the CPU's substantial core count ensures headroom at lower settings.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a pronounced drop in performance as resolution increases, a classic indicator of GPU-bound rendering. At 1080p with High settings, the combo achieves an average of 99 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same High preset, the average falls to 72 FPS, a 27% reduction. The most severe scaling occurs at 3840x2160, where the average plummets to 47 FPS, representing a 35% drop from the 1440p figure and a 53% decrease from the 1080p result.

This scaling pattern is consistent across all settings. For instance, with Low settings, the average FPS goes from 159 at 1080p to 117 at 1440p, and further down to 75 at 4K. The gap between resolutions widens at higher presets, suggesting that the RTX 2060 SUPER's 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 256-bit bus are being saturated. The 448.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth appears insufficient to maintain frame rates when pixel count quadruples from 1080p to 4K.

The data strongly suggests the GPU is the limiting component in this configuration. At 1080p Low, the 159 FPS average indicates the CPU can feed frames quickly, but the GPU cannot scale that performance to higher resolutions. The transition from 1440p to 4K at any given setting shows a consistent drop of roughly 40-46 FPS, which is a linear relationship tied to pixel throughput rather than CPU capability. The Core i7-14700F, with its 20 cores and 28 threads, does not show signs of bottlenecking at any resolution tested, as the FPS deltas align with GPU workload expectations.

Settings Recommendations

Examining the measured rows, the optimal balance between visual quality and playable frame rates is found at Medium settings for most resolutions. At 1920x1080, Medium yields an average of 113 FPS, which is only 14 FPS lower than Low but provides a significant visual upgrade. The jump from Medium to High at 1080p results in a 14 FPS loss, bringing the average to 99 FPS, which is still smooth for a competitive FPS.

For 2560x1440, Medium settings provide an average of 83 FPS, with a minimum of 70 FPS and a maximum of 95 FPS. This is the recommended preset for this resolution, as High drops to 72 FPS and Ultra falls to 54 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p is not advisable for consistent competitive play, as the average dips below 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the picture is more constrained. Medium settings yield an average of 53 FPS, with a minimum of 45 FPS, which is borderline playable but may feel stuttery in fast-paced sequences. Low settings are the only preset that achieves a comfortable average above 60 FPS, hitting 75 FPS. Given the data, users targeting 4K should stick to Low settings, while those on 1440p monitors will find Medium the best compromise between fidelity and responsiveness. At 1080p, High settings are still viable, but Medium offers the best headroom for maintaining frame times above 100 FPS.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is the pivot around which this system's gaming performance revolves. Its specifications, including a base clock of 1470 MHz and a boost clock of 1650 MHz, define its processing ceiling. The 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth, is the critical resource for Lockdown Protocol's texture and geometry loads at higher resolutions.

The GPU's benchmark scores place it in the 62nd percentile of all GPUs, indicating it is a mid-range performer. Its average benchmark score of 18093 is closely matched by rivals such as the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile (18159, -0.4%) and the AMD Radeon Pro 5700 (18189, -0.5%). This close grouping suggests the RTX 2060 SUPER is a known quantity, and its gaming performance will be predictable.

In Lockdown Protocol, the GPU's role is evident in the resolution scaling. The 35 FPS average at 4K Ultra represents the absolute limit of its capabilities, while the 159 FPS at 1080p Low shows its maximum throughput when the CPU is not the bottleneck. The 12 nm process node and 175 W TDP suggest the card is power-hungry by modern standards, but the data shows it can still deliver playable frame rates at mainstream resolutions. The 34 RT cores and 272 tensor cores are present, but their impact on this specific game's rasterized performance is minimal, as the measured FPS values reflect traditional rendering workloads.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand database of tested combinations for Lockdown Protocol, this pairing of the Intel Core i7-14700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER holds a rank of 2630 out of 3714 total combos. This places it in the bottom 29% of all configurations tested, indicating that while it is not the weakest, it falls significantly behind the majority of systems in the database.

This ranking is primarily attributable to the GPU's mid-range standing. The RTX 2060 SUPER's percentile vs all GPUs of 62% is respectable on its own, but when paired with a high-end CPU like the i7-14700F, the overall system performance is capped by the graphics card. The CPU's percentile vs all CPUs of 91% shows it is a top-tier processor, but its strength cannot compensate for the GPU's limitations in a graphically intensive title.

The gap between the combo's rank and the individual component rankings highlights a system imbalance. Many other combos in the database likely pair the i7-14700F with a faster GPU, pushing this specific configuration down the list. The data shows that for Lockdown Protocol, the GPU is the deciding factor for overall combo performance, and the RTX 2060 SUPER's age and end-of-life production status put this system at a competitive disadvantage.

CPU Role

While the GPU takes the lead in determining frame rates, the Intel Core i7-14700F provides the computational foundation. With 20 cores and 28 threads, this processor is built for heavy multi-threaded workloads. Its base clock of 2.10 GHz and boost clock of 5.40 GHz allow it to handle single-threaded game logic efficiently, while the 33 MB of shared L3 cache reduces memory latency for frequently accessed data.

The CPU's benchmark scores are substantial. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35122 and single-core score of 4958 demonstrate strong performance across the board. Its average benchmark score of 53620 places it just below the Intel Xeon 6505P (53701, -0.2%) and above the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X (53288, 0.6%). This indicates the i7-14700F is a top-10% processor, capable of driving any modern GPU without becoming a bottleneck.

In Lockdown Protocol, the CPU's role is somewhat masked by the GPU bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the 159 FPS average suggests the CPU can process game state and draw calls quickly enough to feed the GPU. However, the fact that FPS does not increase at lower resolutions beyond this point, while the GPU is still the limiting factor at higher resolutions, indicates the CPU has significant headroom. The 20-core configuration ensures that background tasks and game threads do not interfere, but for this specific title, the CPU's massive parallel processing power is underutilized, as the game likely relies more on the GPU's rasterization throughput.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo?

A: Based on the measured FPS, 1920x1080 is the most comfortable resolution. It offers an average of 99 FPS at High settings and 113 FPS at Medium, ensuring smooth gameplay. 2560x1440 is viable with Medium settings (83 FPS), but 4K performance is limited to Low settings for a playable 75 FPS average.

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

A: For Lockdown Protocol, the GPU is the clear bottleneck. The FPS drops linearly as resolution increases, which is a classic sign of GPU saturation. The CPU, with its high benchmark scores, shows no signs of limiting performance, as evidenced by the high frame rates at 1080p.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 SUPER compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The RTX 2060 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 18093. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile, scores 18159, which is 0.4% higher. The AMD Radeon Pro 5700 scores 18189 (0.5% higher), and the AMD Radeon RX 460 scores 18373 (1.5% higher). These are all within a tight performance band.

Q: What is the highest FPS achieved by this combo?

A: The maximum average FPS recorded is 159 at 1920x1080 with Low settings. For Medium settings at 1080p, the average is 113 FPS, with a maximum of 130 FPS observed in the measured row.

Q: Is the i7-14700F a top-tier processor?

A: Yes, the data indicates it is. Its percentile vs all CPUs is 91%, and its average benchmark score of 53620 places it above the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X (53288). Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35122 is a strong indicator of its capability.

Q: Can this combo handle Ultra settings?

A: At 1080p, Ultra settings yield an average of 74 FPS, which is playable. At 1440p, Ultra drops to 54 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. At 4K, Ultra averages only 35 FPS, which is not recommended.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact measured average FPS for each resolution and settings combination.

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

|------------|----------|---------|---------|---------|

| 3840x2160 | High | 47 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 75 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 53 | 45 | 62 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 35 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | High | 72 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 117 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 83 | 70 | 95 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 54 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | High | 99 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 159 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 113 | 96 | 130 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 74 | - | - |

The data shows that the difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p is 85 FPS, while at 4K, the same settings gap is only 40 FPS. This compressed range at 4K further confirms the GPU's memory bandwidth and processing limits, as the graphics card cannot leverage the lower workload of Low settings to the same degree at high pixel counts. The Medium preset consistently offers the most stable frame times, with the smallest gap between average and minimum FPS across all resolutions.