Lockdown Protocol

# Lockdown Protocol with Intel Core i7-14700KF + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060

The combination of Intel's Core i7-14700KF and NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5060 produces a system that ranks 1649th out of 3714 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol, placing it in the upper-middle tier of the database. The CPU sits at the 94th percentile among all processors, while the GPU lands at the 72nd percentile among all graphics cards, suggesting a pairing where the processor has more headroom than the graphics subsystem in this specific FPS title. The measured frame rates across resolutions and settings reveal a system that can handle 1080p and 1440p gaming comfortably, but begins to strain at 4K with higher quality presets.

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 built on the Raptor Lake-R architecture using Intel's 10 nm process node. It operates with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and can boost up to 5.60 GHz, which are the figures recorded in the benchmark database. The chip features 33 MB of shared L3 cache, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 80 KB of L1 cache per core. This processor supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory through a dual-channel memory bus, and it connects to the system via PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes.

In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU demonstrates substantial multi-threaded capability. It scores 44,167 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 6,235 in single-core, while Geekbench shows 21,462 multi-core and 2,578 single-core results. The PassMark multithread score reaches 52,425, with a single-thread score of 4,480. These numbers place the CPU at the 94th percentile against all processors, and its average benchmark score of 70,163 sits remarkably close to its nearest rivals. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F scores 69,996, which is only 0.2% lower, and the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX scores 69,875, just 0.4% behind. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K actually scores 70,879, putting it 1% ahead of the 14700KF, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X trails at 69,515, a 0.9% deficit.

For Lockdown Protocol, an FPS title, the single-thread performance and boost clock behavior typically matter more than raw multi-core grunt. The 5.60 GHz boost clock represents the maximum frequency this chip can reach, and the 6,235 Cinebench R23 single-core score indicates strong per-thread performance. The game's engine likely benefits from this high-frequency design, as frame pacing in fast-paced shooters depends on consistent single-thread responsiveness. The 28 threads and 20 cores provide ample background processing capacity, but the measured FPS data suggests the CPU is not the limiting factor in most scenarios, particularly at higher resolutions where the GPU takes over the bottleneck role.

The PassMark physics score of 2,961 and integer math score of 183,056 further illustrate the chip's computational breadth. Data compression performance reaches 694,963, while encryption tasks complete at 40,046. These figures point to a processor that handles diverse workloads without breaking a sweat, though none of these directly translate to gaming FPS. What matters for Lockdown Protocol is that the CPU can feed the GPU quickly enough at lower resolutions, and the 1080p Low preset result of 201 FPS suggests it does so effectively.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 uses the GB206 chip based on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, manufactured on TSMC's 5 nm process with 21,900 million transistors on a 181 mm² die. It comes with 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU runs at a base clock of 2280 MHz and boosts to 2497 MHz, with memory clocked at 1750 MHz, translating to 28 Gbps effective. The card offers 3,840 shading units, 120 texture mapping units, 48 raster output pipelines, 30 ray tracing cores, and 120 tensor cores.

In synthetic GPU benchmarks, this card achieves 20,891 in PassMark G3D and 11,299 in PassMark GPU compute. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test yields 3,628, while Geekbench OpenCL and Vulkan scores reach 112,787 and 113,321 respectively. These results place the GPU at the 72nd percentile among all graphics cards, with an average benchmark score of 26,331. The nearest rivals show remarkably tight competition: the AMD Radeon 860M scores 26,401 (0.3% higher), the NVIDIA GeForce MX550 scores 26,421 (0.3% higher), the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary scores 26,553 (0.8% higher), and the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT scores 26,011 (1.2% lower). This clustering indicates the RTX 5060 sits in a crowded performance band where even small architectural differences can shift rankings.

The 8 GB VRAM capacity becomes relevant in Lockdown Protocol at higher resolutions. At 4K Ultra, the measured average FPS drops to 44, which could indicate either memory capacity pressure or raw compute limits. The 448.0 GB/s bandwidth is a fixed resource that the GPU must manage across texture streaming and geometry processing. The 48 ROPs and 120 TMUs determine how efficiently the card can fill pixels and apply textures, and these figures are moderate for a modern GPU. The 19.18 TFLOPS FP32 compute rate provides the raw shader throughput, but the game's specific rendering paths determine how much of that theoretical power translates to actual frames.

The RTX 5060's 145 W TDP and 300 W suggested PSU requirement indicate a power-efficient design, but these numbers do not directly factor into measured gaming performance. The PCIe 5.0 x8 interface provides ample bandwidth for most scenarios, though at lower resolutions where the CPU generates frames quickly, the interface could theoretically become a factor. The measured data suggests the GPU is the primary limiter at 4K, where even the Low preset only reaches 95 FPS compared to 201 FPS at 1080p Low.

FAQ

Q: How does the Core i7-14700KF compare to its closest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F?

A: The two processors are nearly identical in average benchmark score, with the Intel chip at 70,163 and the AMD chip at 69,996, a difference of just 0.2%. In practical terms for Lockdown Protocol, this means either CPU would produce similar frame rates, and the measured FPS results for this combo reflect the Intel chip's 94th percentile standing.

Q: What is the highest average FPS this combo achieves in Lockdown Protocol?

A: The maximum recorded average FPS is 201, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This drops to 148 FPS at 2560x1440 Low and 95 FPS at 3840x2160 Low, showing how resolution scaling affects even the least demanding preset.

Q: Does the RTX 5060's 8 GB VRAM cause problems at 4K?

A: The measured data shows a significant FPS drop at 4K Ultra, where average FPS falls to 44 compared to 94 at 1080p Ultra. While this could indicate VRAM pressure, the consistent scaling across all settings at 4K suggests the GPU's compute limits are the primary constraint rather than memory capacity alone.

Q: How does the RTX 5060 rank against the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT?

A: The RTX 5060 scores 26,331 in average benchmark, which is 1.2% higher than the RX 6750 XT's 26,011. This places the two cards in the same performance tier, though Lockdown Protocol-specific results may vary based on driver optimizations and game engine preferences.

Q: What frame rate can this combo sustain at 1440p Medium settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the combo averages 105 FPS with a minimum of 89 FPS and a maximum of 120 FPS. This represents a playable experience for most competitive FPS scenarios, with the minimum staying above common refresh rate thresholds.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more responsible for the 4K performance drop?

A: The data indicates the GPU becomes the limiting factor at 4K. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 201 FPS, suggesting the CPU can push frames well above 200. At 4K Ultra, the 44 FPS result aligns with GPU-bound behavior, where the RTX 5060's compute resources are saturated regardless of CPU capability.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo ranks 1649th out of 3714 tested combinations in Lockdown Protocol, placing it in the 55.6th percentile of all tested systems. This position reflects the pairing of a top-tier CPU with a mid-range GPU, where the processor's 94th percentile standing is partially offset by the graphics card's 72nd percentile performance. The rank suggests that many other combos achieve higher frame rates in this game, likely due to more powerful GPUs paired with somewhat weaker CPUs.

The ranking becomes more meaningful when considering the measured FPS data. At 1080p, this combo produces competitive frame rates across all settings, with the Low preset reaching 201 FPS and even Ultra maintaining 94 FPS. This performance profile indicates the combo is well-suited for high-refresh-rate 1080p gaming. At 1440p, the results remain strong, with Medium settings averaging 105 FPS and High averaging 91 FPS. The 4K results are more modest, with only the Low preset exceeding 60 FPS at 95 FPS average.

The gap between the CPU and GPU percentiles tells a clear story: the 14700KF has substantial headroom that the RTX 5060 cannot fully utilize. This is evident in the scaling pattern where 1080p Low hits 201 FPS, but 4K Low drops to 95 FPS, a 53% reduction. If the system were CPU-limited, the frame rate would remain relatively flat across resolutions. Instead, the consistent drop with increasing resolution points to GPU saturation.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its strongest results. Low settings produce an average of 201 FPS, which is the highest measured value across all configurations. Medium settings average 143 FPS with a minimum of 121 FPS and maximum of 164 FPS. High settings achieve 125 FPS average, while Ultra drops to 94 FPS. The spread from 201 FPS at Low to 94 FPS at Ultra represents a 53% performance cost for the highest quality preset at this resolution.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates scale down predictably. Low settings maintain an average of 148 FPS, which is still above the 144 Hz refresh rate commonly found on 1440p monitors. Medium settings average 105 FPS with a range of 89 to 120 FPS. High settings produce 91 FPS average, and Ultra drops to 69 FPS. The percentage drop from 1080p to 1440p varies by settings: Low falls 26%, Medium falls 27%, High falls 27%, and Ultra falls 27%, showing a consistent scaling factor across all presets.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the clear bottleneck. Low settings average 95 FPS, which is a 36% drop from the 1080p Low result. Medium settings average 68 FPS with a minimum of 57 FPS and maximum of 78 FPS. High settings reach 59 FPS average, just below the 60 FPS threshold often considered the baseline for smooth gameplay. Ultra settings produce 44 FPS average, which is the lowest measured result and represents a 53% drop from 1080p Ultra.

The Medium settings rows provide the only complete min/max data across all resolutions. At 1080p, the range spans 121 to 164 FPS; at 1440p, it spans 89 to 120 FPS; at 4K, it spans 57 to 78 FPS. This data suggests consistent frame pacing without extreme spikes, as the min-to-max spread remains roughly 30% of the average value across all three resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

For players prioritizing maximum frame rates at 1080p, the Low preset at 201 FPS offers the highest headroom for competitive play, though Medium at 143 FPS provides a better visual experience while still exceeding most display refresh rates. The Ultra preset at 94 FPS remains playable but sacrifices significant performance for marginal visual gains. The data suggests Medium strikes the best balance at 1080p, offering 143 FPS with a minimum of 121 FPS that stays above common 120 Hz refresh thresholds.

At 1440p, Medium settings at 105 FPS represent the sweet spot for quality and performance. The minimum of 89 FPS stays above 60 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay even during intense scenes. High settings at 91 FPS remain viable, but the 14 FPS difference between Medium and High may not justify the visual upgrade for competitive players. Ultra at 69 FPS is playable but approaches the threshold where frame drops could become noticeable.

For 4K gaming, the options are more constrained. Low settings at 95 FPS provide the only configuration that comfortably exceeds 60 FPS. Medium at 68 FPS stays above 60 FPS on average, but the minimum of 57 FPS means occasional dips below the threshold. High at 59 FPS and Ultra at 44 FPS are borderline for smooth gameplay, and players seeking consistent 4K performance should likely stick with Low or Medium settings.

The overall recommendation based on measured data is to use Medium settings at 1080p or 1440p for the best combination of visual quality and frame rate stability. The Medium preset consistently delivers frame rates that exceed 100 FPS at both resolutions, with minimums that remain playable. At 4K, Low settings provide the best experience, with Medium as a viable alternative for players who can tolerate occasional dips below 60 FPS.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a consistent pattern across all settings presets. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 201 at 1080p to 148 at 1440p (a 26% reduction) and then to 95 at 4K (a 36% reduction from 1440p). At Medium settings, the progression goes from 143 to 105 to 68, representing drops of 27% and 35% respectively. High settings scale from 125 to 91 to 59, with drops of 27% and 35%. Ultra settings go from 94 to 69 to 44, with drops of 27% and 36%.

The consistency of these percentages across all settings is striking. Whether running Low or Ultra, the transition from 1080p to 1440p costs roughly 26-27% performance, and the transition from 1440p to 4K costs roughly 35-36% performance. This uniformity suggests the scaling is driven by pixel count and GPU fill rate rather than any specific setting interaction. The total pixel count increases by 78% from 1080p to 1440p and by 125% from 1440p to 4K, yet the FPS drops are smaller than these pixel increases, indicating the GPU has some headroom in its pixel processing capabilities.

The limiting component analysis becomes clear when examining the 1080p results. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 201 FPS, which is likely near the CPU's maximum frame generation capability for this game. If the GPU were the limit, we would expect to see similar FPS at 1080p and 1440p, but the 26% drop at 1440p indicates the GPU is already becoming the primary constraint at this resolution. The CPU's 94th percentile ranking and high single-thread performance suggest it could push even higher frame rates if paired with a more powerful GPU.

The 4K results definitively show GPU-bound behavior. The 36% drop from 1440p to 4K at every settings level indicates the RTX 5060's compute and memory resources are saturated. The 8 GB VRAM and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth become increasingly stressed as resolution increases, and the 48 ROPs limit pixel throughput. The measured data supports the conclusion that this combo is optimized for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with 4K performance representing a significant compromise that requires lowering settings to maintain playable frame rates.