Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol is an FPS built for high-refresh competitive play, and the data for the Intel Core i7-14700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER combo shows it delivers exactly that, though with some caveats at the highest settings. This pairing is a top-tier 1440p performer and an exceptional 1080p machine, but the demands of 4K Ultra will test its limits. The benchmark results paint a clear picture of where the CPU and GPU each take charge, and how you should configure the game.

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 from the Core 14th Gen series, built on the Raptor Lake architecture. Its base clock is 3.40 GHz with a boost clock of 5.60 GHz, which is critical for a game like Lockdown Protocol where frame pacing and high average FPS matter more than raw multi-threaded throughput. The processor sits in the 96th percentile of all CPUs tested, and its average benchmark score of 70104 puts it in a dead heat with its nearest rivals. The data shows it is effectively tied with the Intel Core i7-14700K (a 0% delta), and it trades blows with the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X, which is only 0.4% faster, and the AMD EPYC 9115, which is 0.3% slower. This tells you the CPU is not a bottleneck in this system; it has ample headroom to feed the GPU.

The L3 cache is 33 MB shared, and with 28 threads, it can handle any background tasks while gaming. In the measured results, the impact of the CPU is most visible at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low settings, the combo hits 330.7 FPS, which is a massive jump from the 156.7 FPS at 4K Low. That scaling is almost entirely driven by the CPU's ability to push frames when the GPU is not the limiting factor. The 14700KF's high boost clock is the key here; it ensures that single-threaded performance, as seen in its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 6290, is strong enough to avoid holding back the RTX 4080 SUPER. The data shows the CPU's role is to provide a stable, high-frequency foundation that allows the GPU to stretch its legs, especially at 1080p where the frame rates are highest.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is the workhorse of this pairing. It comes with 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, offering 736.3 GB/s of bandwidth. Its boost clock is 2550 MHz, and it is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture using a 5 nm process. The GPU's percentile rank is 88 among all GPUs, and its average benchmark score of 53610 positions it just ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT by 0.2% and the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M by 0.4%. It is also 2.1% faster than the AMD Radeon RX 7700S and 2.9% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti. These deltas are small, meaning the 4080 SUPER is a known quantity with consistent performance.

In Lockdown Protocol, the GPU's role becomes dominant as resolution and settings increase. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 74.5, which is a clear sign that the GPU is fully saturated. The 16 GB of VRAM is sufficient for the High preset at 4K, but the Ultra preset's demand is what causes the significant frame rate drop. The data shows that the GPU is the limiting component at 4K, especially with the Ultra preset, where the frame rate falls below the 100 FPS threshold that competitive players often target. The memory bandwidth is high, but the sheer pixel count of 3840x2160 proves to be a heavy load. At 1440p and 1080p, the GPU has more headroom, and the frame rates reflect that, with the High preset at 1440p hitting 149.7 FPS.

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

The measured FPS data across resolutions reveals a textbook scaling pattern. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo produces 330.7 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops that to 242.5 FPS, a reduction of about 26%. Then at 4K Low, it falls to 156.7 FPS, another 35% drop from 1440p. This steep decline indicates that the GPU is becoming the primary bottleneck as resolution increases, even on Low settings. When we look at the High preset, the pattern is similar but the absolute numbers are lower: 207.7 FPS at 1080p, 149.7 FPS at 1440p, and 99.4 FPS at 4K. The gap between 1080p and 4K High is over 50%, which is substantial.

The key insight is the difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 4K. Low gives 156.7 FPS, while Ultra gives 74.5 FPS. That is a 52% performance penalty for enabling Ultra settings, which is a massive hit. This tells us that the RTX 4080 SUPER is not powerful enough to brute-force Lockdown Protocol at 4K Ultra with playable frame rates. The limiting component at 4K is clearly the GPU. Conversely, at 1080p, the CPU is doing more of the heavy lifting, as evidenced by the 330.7 FPS Low result, which is a number that only a strong processor can help achieve. The scaling suggests that for this combo, 1440p is the sweet spot where neither component is completely overwhelmed, and 1080p is where the CPU shines.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the database of tested combinations for Lockdown Protocol, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i7-14700KF and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER ranks 88th out of 1637 total combos. That places it in the top 5.4% of all systems tested, which is an excellent result. The rank of 88 is a strong indicator that this build is well-balanced for this game. It is not the absolute best, but it is far above the median, and it outperforms the vast majority of setups. The high rank is likely due to the combination of the CPU's excellent single-thread performance and the GPU's high bandwidth.

Compared to the nearest rivals, this combo's performance is consistent with what the individual component scores suggest. The CPU is tied with the i7-14700K, and the GPU is slightly faster than the RX 6900 XT, so the combo rank reflects that synergy. The data shows that this is a high-end pairing that will not leave you wanting for performance in most scenarios. The rank of 88 out of 1637 confirms the fact that you have selected two components that work well together, avoiding any major bottlenecks. It is a reliable choice for high-refresh gaming.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1440p High settings for this combo?

A: The measured average FPS is 149.7 at 2560x1440 with High settings. This makes 1440p High a very viable option for a smooth experience.

Q: Can this system handle 4K Ultra settings in Lockdown Protocol?

A: It can run it, but the average FPS drops to 74.5 at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings. This is below the 100 FPS mark, so you may need to lower settings for a more competitive frame rate.

Q: How does the Intel Core i7-14700KF compare to the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X?

A: In average benchmark scores, the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X is 0.4% faster than the Intel Core i7-14700KF. The performance difference is negligible in practical terms.

Q: What is the GPU's percentile rank among all GPUs?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is in the 88th percentile of all GPUs tested. This indicates it is a high-performing card that outperforms the majority of its peers.

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

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 330.7 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 157.3 FPS. The Ultra preset is more demanding, but both offer high frame rates.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 4K resolution?

A: The data shows the GPU is the limiting factor at 4K. The FPS drops significantly with higher settings, and the CPU has enough headroom to keep up, as indicated by the high frame rates at 1080p.

Settings Recommendations

For the best balance of visual quality and performance, the High preset at 2560x1440 is the clear recommendation. It delivers an average of 149.7 FPS, which is well above the 144Hz refresh rate that many high-end monitors offer, and it provides a substantial visual upgrade over the Medium preset. If you have a 1080p monitor with a very high refresh rate, the High preset at 207.7 FPS is also an excellent choice, offering a smooth and responsive experience. The Medium preset at 1440p gives 175.9 FPS, which is faster, but the jump to High is worth the small performance cost.

At 4K, you should avoid the Ultra preset, as the 74.5 FPS average is too low for a competitive FPS. The High preset at 4K is a better option, hitting 99.4 FPS, but it is still below the 100 FPS target. If you want to play at 4K, the Medium preset at 110 FPS is the most playable option, though you will have to sacrifice some visual fidelity. The Low preset at 4K gives 156.7 FPS, but it looks noticeably worse. For most players, sticking to 1440p High will provide the best overall experience, as it combines high detail with frame rates that are high enough to give you a competitive edge. The data strongly supports using High settings at 1440p as the default for this system.