Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol is a fast-paced FPS that scales predictably with resolution, and the Intel Core i7-14700KF paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT delivers a playable experience at most settings, though the data reveals a clear shift in system bottleneck as pixel count rises. At 1080p, the combination produces high frame rates across all presets, but the performance curve flattens considerably at 4K, indicating that the GPU becomes the primary limiting factor in the most demanding scenarios. The measured results show a 12-frame difference between 1080p and 1440p at Ultra settings, while the jump from 1440p to 4K at the same preset costs over 19 frames per second, underscoring the Radeon card's struggle with higher pixel densities.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent across all settings, which is typical for a mid-range GPU like the RX 6750 XT. At Low settings, the average FPS falls from 202.4 at 1920x1080 to 146.1 at 2560x1440, then to 96.1 at 3840x2160 — a reduction of 28% and 34% respectively for each step up in resolution. This pattern indicates that the GPU is handling the majority of the rendering workload, and the CPU is not yet saturated, even at the lower resolutions where frame rates are highest.

For High settings, the scaling is similar: 125.1 FPS at 1080p drops to 88.9 FPS at 1440p and then to 57.9 FPS at 4K. The 4K result is notably below the 60 FPS threshold that many players target for smooth competitive play, while the 1440p result remains comfortably playable. Medium settings show a comparable trend, with 141.9 FPS at 1080p, 105.6 FPS at 1440p, and 68.1 FPS at 4K, with the latter still holding above the playable line.

Ultra settings present the most demanding scenario, with the average FPS dropping from 91.2 at 1080p to 65.5 at 1440p and finally to 46.3 at 4K. The difference between High and Ultra at the same resolution is substantial—at 1080p, Ultra is 34 FPS slower than High, and at 4K, the gap narrows to just over 11 FPS, suggesting that the GPU is becoming the bottleneck at higher resolutions regardless of preset. The data points to the RX 6750 XT being the limiting component for 4K play, while the CPU has ample headroom even at lower resolutions.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700KF brings 20 cores and 28 threads to the table, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. This processor is a strong performer in synthetic benchmarks, scoring 44,557 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 6,290 in single-core tests, placing it in the 96th percentile among all CPUs. In Lockdown Protocol, the CPU's role is primarily to feed the GPU with frames, and the benchmark results suggest that even at 1080p with Low settings—where the average FPS reaches 202.4—the processor is not the limiting factor.

The CPU's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-14700K with an average score of 70,074 and a 0% delta, and the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X with a score of 70,420 and a -0.4% delta, indicating the 14700KF is essentially on par with these parts. However, the game's frame rates are more dependent on the GPU, as evidenced by the large FPS swings between settings at the same resolution. For instance, at 1440p, switching from Low to Ultra changes the average FPS from 146.1 to 65.5, a difference of 80.6 FPS that cannot be attributed to CPU performance.

The processor's high boost clock of 5.60 GHz helps maintain consistent frame pacing in scenes with many on-screen actors, but the data does not indicate any CPU-bound scenarios in this test. Even at 1080p, where the FPS exceeds 200 on Low settings, the CPU is still delivering frames faster than the GPU can render, which is a healthy sign for a combination that aims to maximize performance. The 33 MB of shared L3 cache and per-core L2 cache of 2 MB provide ample data storage for game assets, though the benchmark results do not isolate this effect.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1440p with High settings?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700KF and AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT combination achieves 88.9 FPS on average at 2560x1440 with High settings, which is well above the 60 FPS target for most players.

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

A: At 3840x2160, the average FPS is 57.9 on High settings and 46.3 on Ultra, so 4K is only playable at Low or Medium settings, where the card delivers 96.1 and 68.1 FPS respectively.

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

A: The i7-14700KF has an average benchmark score of 70,104, which is essentially identical to the Intel Core i7-14700K at 70,074 (0% delta) and within 0.4% of the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combination?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the sweet spot, with all settings exceeding 91 FPS, while 2560x1440 is also viable for High and Medium presets, with averages of 88.9 and 105.6 FPS.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from 1080p to 4K?

A: At High settings, the average FPS drops from 125.1 at 1080p to 57.9 at 4K, representing a 54% reduction, which is consistent with the GPU being the primary bottleneck.

Q: Does the CPU bottleneck this GPU at any resolution?

A: No, the benchmark results show that the GPU is the limiting factor, as frame rates scale with resolution and settings, while the CPU remains capable of delivering over 200 FPS at 1080p Low.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Lockdown Protocol, this pairing of the Intel Core i7-14700KF and AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT ranks 826th out of 1,637 total combos, placing it in the middle of the pack. This ranking reflects a balanced system where neither component is extreme, but the combination still provides solid performance for the game's requirements. The CPU's high percentile ranking of 96% among all processors suggests that the processor is not the weak link, while the GPU's 79th percentile indicates it is a capable mid-range part.

The mid-pack ranking means that many other combinations with more powerful GPUs or higher-end CPUs will outperform this setup, but it also implies that this combo is not at the bottom of the barrel. For players targeting 1080p or 1440p gaming, this configuration offers a good experience, as evidenced by the measured frame rates that often exceed 60 FPS. The rank is a composite measure that accounts for the CPU and GPU's individual strengths, and the data shows that this pairing is well-matched for the game's demands.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combination delivers its highest frame rates across all settings. Low settings produce an average of 202.4 FPS, which drops to 141.9 FPS at Medium and 125.1 FPS at High. Ultra settings still manage 91.2 FPS, ensuring a smooth experience even with maximum graphical fidelity. The difference between Low and Ultra at this resolution is 111.2 FPS, indicating that the GPU has significant headroom when the resolution is low.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain strong but show a clear reduction. Low settings average 146.1 FPS, Medium reaches 105.6 FPS, High delivers 88.9 FPS, and Ultra falls to 65.5 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra narrows to 80.6 FPS, suggesting that the GPU is starting to feel the pressure of additional pixels. All settings at 1440p still exceed the 60 FPS threshold, making this a viable resolution for competitive play.

At 3840x2160, the performance drops significantly, with Low settings averaging 96.1 FPS, Medium at 68.1 FPS, High at 57.9 FPS, and Ultra at 46.3 FPS. The drop from 1440p to 4K at High settings is 31 FPS, and at Ultra, the loss is over 19 FPS. At this resolution, only Low and Medium settings provide playable frame rates above 60 FPS, while High and Ultra require a more powerful GPU to maintain smooth gameplay. The data confirms that this combination is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with 4K reserved for less demanding presets.