Lockdown Protocol

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core i7-14700KF is a 20-core, 28-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake-R architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process. Its base clock sits at 3.40 GHz, with a boost clock reaching 5.60 GHz. The CPU's cache hierarchy includes an 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and a substantial 33 MB shared L3 cache. These specifications position it as a high-end desktop part, and its benchmark scores confirm this: it achieves a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44167 and a single-core score of 6235, along with a Geekbench multi-core score of 21462 and single-core score of 2578. Its PassMark multithread score of 52425 and single-thread score of 4480 further underline its capability.

In the context of Lockdown Protocol, an FPS title, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic updates. The data shows the processor's percentile rank among all CPUs is 94, meaning it outperforms the vast majority of desktop processors. When compared to its nearest rivals in the benchmark database, the i7-14700KF's average benchmark score of 70163 is 0.2% higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F (avgScore 69996), 0.4% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX (avgScore 69875), and 0.9% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X (avgScore 69515). Interestingly, it trails the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K by 1% (avgScore 70879). These differences are marginal, suggesting that in CPU-bound scenarios, the i7-14700KF is essentially on par with its closest competitors.

The high single-thread performance, evidenced by the Cinebench R15 single-core score of 628 and the PassMark single-thread score of 4480, is particularly relevant for games like Lockdown Protocol that often rely on a few heavily-loaded threads for physics and game logic. The 33 MB L3 cache also helps by reducing memory latency for frequently accessed data. Given the measured FPS results, which show the combo reaching 290 FPS at 1080p Low, it is evident that the CPU is not a primary bottleneck at lower settings and resolutions; instead, it provides the headroom necessary for the GPU to operate at its full potential.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture using TSMC's 5 nm process, with the AD104 chip containing 35,800 million transistors. It features 7168 shading units, 224 texture mapping units, and 80 raster output units, along with 56 RT cores and 224 tensor cores. The GPU's base clock is 1980 MHz with a boost clock of 2475 MHz, while its memory operates at 1313 MHz (21 Gbps effective). The card is equipped with 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. Its FP32 performance is rated at 35.48 TFLOPS, and its pixel rate is 198.0 GPixel/s, with a texture rate of 554.4 GTexel/s.

In Lockdown Protocol, the GPU's role becomes dominant as resolution and settings increase. The 12 GB VRAM is a critical asset at 4K Ultra, where texture data can be extensive. The data supports this: at 2160p, average FPS drops from 137 on Low to 64 on Ultra, a clear sign that the GPU's compute and memory subsystem are under increasing strain. The GPU's percentile rank among all graphics cards is 83, with an average benchmark score of 43223. Its nearest rivals are all within a very tight band: the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB (avgScore 43262) is 0.1% higher, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile (avgScore 43268) is 0.1% higher, and the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 (avgScore 43301) is 0.2% higher. The only other rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile (avgScore 43667), is 1% higher. This clustering indicates that the RTX 4070 SUPER is positioned as a strong upper-midrange performer, capable of handling modern FPS titles at high frame rates.

The boost clock of 2475 MHz and the high bandwidth are instrumental in achieving the observed performance. At 1080p Low, the GPU can render frames at an average of 290 FPS, which is likely near the CPU's limit for frame generation. As settings rise, the GPU starts to take on more work, and the average FPS at 1080p Ultra falls to 135. The 12 GB frame buffer does not appear to be a limiting factor for this title, as even the most demanding preset (4K Ultra) does not show a catastrophic drop that would indicate memory swapping. Instead, the smooth degradation from Low to Ultra suggests a pure compute-bound scenario.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core i7-14700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER ranks 582nd out of 3714 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the top 15.7% of all tested systems, a strong showing that underscores the synergy between the CPU and GPU. The rank reflects the measured FPS data across all resolutions and settings, and it indicates that this pairing is well-balanced for this particular game.

The fact that this combo sits at rank 582 means there are 581 systems that perform better, but these are likely to be powered by more expensive or more specialized hardware, such as top-tier CPUs paired with flagship GPUs. The data implies that the i7-14700KF + RTX 4070 SUPER is a high-end pairing that can deliver a premium gaming experience without being at the absolute top of the performance stack. This rank is particularly impressive given that the CPU and GPU individually are not the absolute fastest in their respective categories; instead, their combined performance in this title is greater than the sum of their parts.

What is notable is the consistency of the measured results. The combo does not show any anomalous dips at specific settings, which suggests that the drivers and the game engine are well-optimized for this hardware configuration. The rank of 582 is a single data point, but it is derived from 12 distinct measured FPS rows, covering four settings at three resolutions. This robustness indicates that the ranking is not a fluke but a reliable indicator of the combo's capability in Lockdown Protocol.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

At 1920x1080, the i7-14700KF + RTX 4070 SUPER delivers exceptional performance. On Low settings, the average FPS is 290, which is extremely high and likely CPU-limited, as the GPU is rendering simple scenes with minimal effects. Moving to Medium settings, the average FPS drops to 206, with a minimum of 175 and a maximum of 237. This shows a 29% decrease from Low, indicating increased GPU workload. High settings produce an average of 180 FPS, a further 12.6% drop from Medium. Ultra settings yield an average of 135 FPS, which is 25% lower than High and 53.4% lower than Low. The frame rate drops are consistent with a GPU that is scaling well with settings, but the absolute numbers are high enough for competitive play even at Ultra.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but begins to show the GPU working harder. Low settings achieve an average of 212 FPS, which is 26.9% lower than the 1080p Low result slash a clear sign of resolution scaling. Medium settings produce an average of 151 FPS, with a minimum of 128 and maximum of 173. High settings deliver an average of 132 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to an average of 99 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 113 FPS, a 53.3% reduction ratio similar to that seen at 1080p. This suggests the GPU is the primary constraint at this resolution, with the CPU still providing enough headroom.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the definitive bottleneck. Low settings average 137 FPS, which is still playable but a 52.7% drop from the 1080p Low result. Medium settings average 97 FPS, with a minimum of 83 and maximum of 112. High settings average 85 FPS, and Ultra falls to 64 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 73 FPS, a 53.3% reduction, mirroring the scaling pattern at lower resolutions. The minimum FPS of 83 at 4K Medium and 64 FPS at 4K Ultra are both above the 60 FPS threshold, indicating that the combo can handle 4K gaming comfortably, though not at the highest refresh rates.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve 144 FPS?

A: At 1080p, all settings from Low to Ultra exceed 135 FPS, with Ultra averaging exactly 135 FPS. At 1440p, only Low (212 FPS) and Medium (151 FPS) exceed 144 FPS, while High averages 132 FPS and Ultra averages 99 FPS. Therefore, 1080p is the resolution for a guaranteed 144+ FPS experience across all presets.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 Ultra, the average FPS is 64, with no minimum or maximum recorded. This is above the 60 FPS baseline for smooth gameplay, but it is the lowest measured result for this comboikuha. For higher refresh rates at 4K, users would need to lower settings to Medium (97 FPS) or Low (137 FPS).

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 1080p Low?

A: The data suggests the CPU is the primary limiter at 1080p Low. The average FPS of 290 is very high, and given the CPU's single-thread score of 4480 in PassMark, it is likely that the frame rate is capped by the CPU's ability to issue draw calls rather than the GPU's rendering speed. The GPU is capable of higher frame rates, but the CPU cannot keep up.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from 1080p to 1440p?

A: At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 290 to 212, a 26.9% reduction. At Medium settings, it drops from 206 to 151, a 26.7% reduction. At High settings, it drops from 180 to 132, a 26.7% reduction. At Ultra settings, it drops from 135 to 99, a 26.7% reduction. This consistent ~27% drop across settings indicates that the GPU is the main scaling factor.

Q: What is the combo's rank in this game, and how many total combos are tested?

A: The combo ranks 582nd out of 3714 tested combinations. This places it in the top 15.7% of all tested systems for Lockdown Protocol, indicating that it is a high-performing pairing that exceeds the majority of other configurations.

Q: Does the GPU's 12 GB VRAM cause any issues at 4K?

A: The measured data shows no signs of a VRAM capacity bottleneck. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 64, and the game runs without catastrophic frame drops that would be indicative of memory swapping. The GPU's memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s appears sufficient for this game's 4K textures, as the performance scales consistently from Low to Ultra.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user's priority: maximum frame rate or maximum visual fidelity. For competitive play, where high frame rates are critical, the 1080p Low preset delivers an average of 290 FPS. This is the highest measured frame rate for any configuration and is ideal for esports-style play. At 1440p, the Low preset still offers 212 FPS, which is excellent for competitive gaming at a higher resolution.

For those seeking a balance between visual quality and frame rate, the Medium preset is the sweet spot. At 1080p, it produces an average of 206 FPS with a minimum of 175 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay without sacrificing too many visual effects. At 1440p, Medium averages 151 FPS with a minimum of 128 FPS, which is still above the 120 FPS threshold for high-refresh-rate monitors. The Medium preset also shows the most consistent frame pacing, with the smallest gap between minimum and maximum FPS (62 FPS at 1080p, 45 FPS at 1440p).

The High preset is a viable option for those who want improved visuals without a major performance hit. At 1080p, it averages 180 FPS, and at 1440p, it averages 132 FPS. However, the jump from High to Ultra offers diminishing returns: at 1080p, Ultra averages 135 FPS (25% slower than High), and at 1440p, Ultra averages 99 FPS (25% slower than High). The visual difference between High and Ultra is typically subtle in FPS titles, but the performance cost is significant.

At 4K, the recommendations shift. The Medium preset at 2160p averages 97 FPS, with a minimum of 83 FPS, making it the best choice for a smooth 4K experience. The High preset at 4K averages 85 FPS, which is still playable, but the Medium preset provides a larger safety margin above the 60 FPS baseline. The Ultra preset at 4K averages 64 FPS, which is borderline for 60 Hz displays, but the minimum FPS is not recorded, so there is a risk of dips below 60. For the most consistent 4K experience, Medium is recommended.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and consistent pattern of resolution scaling. Moving from 1080p to 1440p results in a uniform ~27% drop in average FPS across all settings. This is a classic sign of GPU-bound performance: as the pixel count increases by 78% (from 1,920 x 1,080 to 2,560 x 1,440), the GPU must fill more pixels, leading to a proportional decrease in frame rate. The CPU is not the limiting factor at these resolutions, as the 27% drop is nearly identical for all settings, suggesting that the CPU's role remains constant while the GPU's workload scales with resolution.

The drop from 1440p to 2160p shows a similar pattern but with a slightly larger magnitude. For instance, at Low settings, the average FPS drops from 212 at 1440p to 137 at 4K, a 35.4% reduction. This is more than the 27% drop from 1080p to 1440p, indicating that the GPU is becoming even more constrained as the pixel count increases by another 125% (from 2,560 x 1,440 to 3,840 x 2,160). The increased memory bandwidth requirements at 4K further stress the GPU, and the 12 GB VRAM is now working with larger texture sets, though no bottleneck is evident.

The data implies that the RTX 4070 SUPER is the primary limiting component at resolutions above 1080p. The CPU's high single-thread and multi-thread scores (Cinebench R23 single-core 6235, multi-core 44167) ensure that it can keep up with the GPU's demands even at 4K, where the GPU is rendering at an average of 137 FPS on Low. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see similar FPS numbers regardless of resolution, but the data shows a clear inverse relationship between resolution and frame rate. This is a textbook demonstration of a balanced system where the GPU becomes the performance ceiling as resolution increases. For users with high-refresh-rate 1440p monitors, the combo is ideal, but for 4K 144 Hz displays, the GPU will hold the average FPS to roughly 137 on Low settings.