Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol is a demanding FPS, but the combination of the Intel Core i7-14700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 proves to be exceptionally potent, landing in the top 1% of tested configurations. The data indicates a system that delivers high refresh rates at 1440p and remains very playable at 4K, with the CPU providing a robust foundation for the GPU's immense rendering power.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is significant, but the scaling pattern reveals a system that is primarily GPU-bound at higher resolutions. At 1080p with High settings, the combo produces 235.2 FPS. Moving to 1440p drops this to 171.7 FPS, a reduction of 27%. The jump to 4K results in 112.1 FPS, which is a 35% decrease from 1440p and a 52% decrease from the 1080p figure. This steep decline is the classic signature of a GPU that is being pushed to its limits by pixel count.

The scaling behavior further clarifies the bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the system hits 347.3 FPS, which is an extremely high frame rate. This suggests that while the GPU is still the main limiting factor, the CPU is working hard to feed it. However, the RTX 5090's massive compute resources are so vast that even at 1080p, the Core i7-14700KF manages to keep up sufficiently to avoid a hard ceiling. The data shows that the most dramatic performance gains from lowering resolution occur at the High and Ultra presets, where the GPU's workload is most intense. For example, dropping from 4K Ultra to 1080p Ultra yields a massive 114% increase in frame rate, from 83.5 FPS to 178.9 FPS. This confirms that the GPU is the primary component dictating performance, with the CPU providing a stable and capable platform.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific pairing of the Intel Core i7-14700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 achieves a combo rank of 8 out of 1637 tested combinations in Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the 99.5th percentile of all systems tested, a position that underscores its elite status. The data shows that this is not merely a high-end setup but one of the absolute fastest configurations for this game that has been recorded in the database. The rank of 8 suggests that only a handful of other pairings, likely featuring even more extreme or specialized components, are capable of outperforming it in this specific title. This result is a clear verdict on the synergy between the 20-core CPU and the Blackwell-architecture GPU; they work together to produce top-tier results that are nearly unmatched.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 is the undisputed performance driver in this configuration. Its specifications are staggering: 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 1.79 TB/s. This immense memory subsystem is critical for feeding the 21,760 shading units and 176 ROPs at high resolutions. The GPU's clock speeds, with a base of 2017 MHz and a boost of 2407 MHz, allow it to reach a peak FP32 performance of 104.8 TFLOPS. This raw compute power is directly reflected in the game's performance, where even at 4K Ultra, the system manages to produce a playable 83.5 FPS.

The data indicates that the GPU's capability is the primary reason why the system scales so well with settings. At 1440p, the frame rate increases from 128.3 FPS at Ultra to 281.2 FPS at Low, a 119% improvement. This shows that the GPU has enough headroom to exploit lower graphical loads to deliver exceptionally high refresh rates. The 32 GB VRAM also ensures that texture-heavy scenes at 4K will not cause memory-related stuttering, as the capacity is far beyond what even the most demanding current titles require. The RTX 5090's performance is the central pillar of this build's success, and the benchmark results consistently show it operating in a dominant position.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates provide a complete picture of the system's capabilities across different resolutions and quality settings. At 1080p, the system is exceptionally fast. Low settings produce 347.3 FPS, Medium yields 272.6 FPS, High drops to 235.2 FPS, and Ultra still maintains a very high 178.9 FPS. These numbers show that at this resolution, the system is entirely capable of driving high-refresh-rate monitors at maximum quality.

At 1440p, the performance remains outstanding. The Low preset achieves 281.2 FPS, Medium hits 201.4 FPS, and High produces 171.7 FPS. Even the Ultra preset, which is the most demanding, manages to stay above the 120 FPS threshold with an average of 128.3 FPS. This makes 1440p a sweet spot for this combination, offering a perfect balance between visual fidelity and speed.

At 4K, the system's performance is still impressive, though the GPU is clearly working harder. The Low preset delivers 184.1 FPS, Medium drops to 127.7 FPS, and High settles at 112.1 FPS. The Ultra preset, which pushes the GPU to its absolute limit, yields 83.5 FPS. This is still a very playable frame rate for a fast-paced FPS, but it shows that to achieve the highest refresh rates at 4K, users will need to dial back the settings from Ultra.

Settings Recommendations

For users with high-refresh-rate 1080p or 1440p monitors, the Ultra preset is the clear choice. The data shows the system has ample performance to spare, with 178.9 FPS at 1080p Ultra and 128.3 FPS at 1440p Ultra. There is no reason to compromise on visual quality at these resolutions when the hardware can handle the maximum load with ease.

At 4K, the decision becomes more nuanced. If a 120 Hz or higher display is the target, the High preset is recommended, as it delivers an average of 112.1 FPS. This is a substantial improvement over the 83.5 FPS of the Ultra preset and offers a smoother experience that is better suited for competitive play. If visual fidelity is the absolute priority and a 60 Hz or 90 Hz display is used, then the Ultra preset's 83.5 FPS is perfectly acceptable and will provide the best-looking image. For those seeking the absolute highest frame rates at 4K, the Medium preset at 127.7 FPS is a strong option that balances quality and speed effectively.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming?

A: Yes. The data shows playable frame rates at 4K across all settings, with the High preset achieving 112.1 FPS and the Ultra preset achieving 83.5 FPS.

Q: How does the system perform at 1440p?

A: Exceptionally well. The measured results show 171.7 FPS on High and 128.3 FPS on Ultra, making it ideal for high-refresh-rate 1440p monitors.

Q: What is the best setting for competitive play at 1080p?

A: Even the Ultra preset provides a very high 178.9 FPS. For the absolute maximum frame rate, the Low preset achieves 347.3 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck for the RTX 5090?

A: The benchmark data indicates the pairing is well-balanced. The combo ranks 8th out of 1637, and the 1080p Low result of 347.3 FPS demonstrates the CPU can feed the GPU effectively.

Q: How does the RTX 5090's 32 GB of VRAM impact performance?

A: The 32 GB of GDDR7 memory ensures that memory capacity is not a limiting factor at any resolution or settings level, preventing potential stutters and texture pop-in.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between High and Ultra at 4K?

A: The High preset produces 112.1 FPS, which is 28.6 FPS higher than the Ultra preset's 83.5 FPS. This represents a 34% performance gain.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700KF plays a crucial supporting role, ensuring the RTX 5090 is never starved for data. With 20 cores and 28 threads, this CPU provides substantial multi-threaded capability that is essential for modern game engines. Its boost clock of 5.60 GHz allows for excellent single-threaded performance, which is still critical for game logic and physics. The CPU's strong performance is confirmed by its 96th percentile ranking among all CPUs, indicating it is a top-tier processor.

The data suggests that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this configuration. At 1080p Low, where the GPU's workload is lightest, the system still achieves 347.3 FPS. This high frame rate demonstrates that the CPU can process and submit frames at a sufficient rate to unlock the GPU's potential. Furthermore, the combo's impressive 8th-place ranking out of 1637 systems reflects the synergy between the i7-14700KF and the RTX 5090. While the GPU is the star, the CPU provides the necessary foundation for delivering top-tier results, ensuring a balanced and high-performing system for Lockdown Protocol.