Lockdown Protocol

Measured FPS Breakdown

The recorded data for Lockdown Protocol with the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X and Intel Arc B370 shows a steep performance curve across resolutions. At 3840x2160, the combination is largely unsuitable for smooth play. The High preset averages 23 FPS, while Medium averages 27 FPS with a minimum of 23 FPS and a maximum of 31 FPS. Low improves to 38 FPS, but even this remains below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The Ultra preset is the weakest at this resolution, delivering only 18 FPS. No settings at 4K produce frame rates near the playable mark, and the gap between Low and High is 15 FPS, indicating that the GPU is heavily constrained by resolution.

Moving to 2560x1440, the situation improves but still falls short of 60 FPS across all presets. Low is the best performer at 58 FPS, just 2 FPS below the playable threshold. High averages 36 FPS, Medium averages 42 FPS with a minimum of 35 FPS and a maximum of 48 FPS, and Ultra drops to 27 FPS. The delta between Low and Ultra is 31 FPS, showing that preset scaling has a significant impact at this resolution. The minimum frame rate on Medium, 35 FPS, suggests occasional dips that would be noticeable in fast-paced FPS gameplay.

At 1920x1080, the combination finally reaches playable territory, but only on the Low preset. Low averages 80 FPS, comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold. Medium averages 57 FPS, just 3 FPS short of playable, with a minimum of 48 FPS and a maximum of 65 FPS. High averages 49 FPS, and Ultra averages 37 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p is 43 FPS, the largest spread across all resolutions. Notably, the minimum frame rate on Medium at 48 FPS is below the playable threshold, meaning even a near-60 average does not guarantee consistent smoothness.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU benchmarks place the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X in a specific performance tier. Its average benchmark score is 29713, and it sits at the 81st percentile among all CPUs. The nearest rivals are all within a narrow band. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755GE scores 29656, a delta of 0.2%, meaning it is effectively identical in performance. The AMD Ryzen 7 7840H scores 29868, which is 0.5% higher. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT scores 29879, 0.6% higher, and the AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS scores 29955, 0.8% higher. For Lockdown Protocol, any of these CPUs would deliver nearly the same frame rates as the 9600X, so if a system with one of these processors were paired with the same Intel Arc B370, the measured FPS would be within a few frames.

The GPU side is more distinct. The Intel Arc B370 has an average benchmark score of 1184 and sits at only the 5th percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are older or lower-end parts. The ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 scores 1186, a delta of -0.2%, meaning the B370 is essentially tied with it. The ATI Radeon HD 5770 scores 1190, 0.5% higher. The AMD Radeon HD 7650M scores 1192, 0.7% higher, and the AMD FirePro M2000 scores 1168, 1.4% lower. In practical terms, the B370 behaves like a legacy-class GPU, and the measured FPS in Lockdown Protocol reflects that. A system with any of these rival GPUs and a similarly performing CPU would produce comparable results, with the 1080p Low preset being the only reliable path to 60 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Lockdown Protocol, this pairing ranks 3427 out of 3714 combos. This places it in the bottom 8% of all tested systems. The rank is driven almost entirely by the GPU, which sits at the 5th percentile, while the CPU is at the 81st percentile. The data shows that the Intel Arc B370 is the limiting factor. Even with a strong 6-core, 12-thread Zen 5 processor, the system cannot push past 58 FPS at 1440p or 80 FPS at 1080p on Low. The rank of 3427 reflects that this is a low-end configuration for Lockdown Protocol, suitable only for esports-style settings at 1080p.

The Verdict

Can this PC run Lockdown Protocol? The answer depends on resolution and preset. At 3840x2160, the verdict is clear: no preset reaches 60 FPS. The best average is 38 FPS on Low, and the Ultra preset averages only 18 FPS. At 2560x1440, the verdict is also negative. Low averages 58 FPS, which is close but not sufficient, and all other presets fall further behind. At 1920x1080, the system becomes playable, but only on the Low preset, which averages 80 FPS. The Medium preset averages 57 FPS, which is below the playable threshold, so it does not qualify. The database's playable threshold is 60 FPS, and the verdict by resolution confirms that 1080p Low is the only configuration that clears it. For any higher resolution or preset, the frame rate will be below 60 FPS, and the experience will be compromised.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals that the GPU dominates the performance profile for Lockdown Protocol. The Intel Arc B370, with its 5th percentile ranking, is the bottleneck at every resolution. Consider the scaling between resolutions on the Low preset: at 2160p, the average is 38 FPS; at 1440p, it is 58 FPS; and at 1080p, it is 80 FPS. This is a 42 FPS swing from 4K to 1080p, which is a classic GPU-bound pattern. The CPU, the Ryzen 5 9600X, remains largely idle in terms of limiting behavior, as its 81st percentile ranking and high single-thread scores (2183.5 in Cinebench R23 single-core) are more than sufficient for an FPS title.

The preset scaling further supports this. At 1080p, moving from Low to Medium drops the average from 80 to 57 FPS, a 23 FPS loss. From Medium to High, it drops to 49 FPS, another 8 FPS. From High to Ultra, it drops to 37 FPS, a 12 FPS loss. The total loss from Low to Ultra is 43 FPS, which is substantial and indicates that the GPU's limited shading units (1280) and texture units (40) are overwhelmed by higher preset demands. The CPU's role is more prominent at lower resolutions and lower presets, where the GPU has less work, but even at 1080p Low, the frame rate of 80 FPS suggests the CPU can feed the GPU adequately without becoming the primary constraint. At higher resolutions, the GPU is unequivocally the limiting factor.

Best Settings per Resolution

For each resolution, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is as follows. At 3840x2160, no preset qualifies. The closest is Low at 38 FPS, but this is far below the threshold. At 2560x1440, no preset qualifies either. Low averages 58 FPS, which is just under the 60 FPS target. At 1920x1080, the Low preset is the only option that clears 60 FPS, with an average of 80 FPS. The Medium preset at 1080p averages 57 FPS, which misses the threshold by 3 FPS, so it cannot be recommended. For users seeking the best visual quality while maintaining playability, 1080p Low is the ceiling for this combination. Higher presets at any resolution will result in frame rates below 60 FPS, and the minimum frame rates on Medium presets (48 FPS at 1080p, 35 FPS at 1440p) indicate that even near-threshold averages come with noticeable dips.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Lockdown Protocol at 60 FPS on a 1440p monitor?

A: No. At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 58 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold. All other presets are lower, with Medium at 42 FPS and Ultra at 27 FPS.

Q: What is the best preset for 1080p gaming?

A: The Low preset is the only one that stays above 60 FPS, averaging 80 FPS. Medium averages 57 FPS, which is below the threshold, so it is not recommended for consistent smoothness.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The B370 scores 1184 in the database's benchmark, which is within 1.4% of the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, ATI Radeon HD 5770, AMD Radeon HD 7650M, and AMD FirePro M2000. It sits at the 5th percentile among all GPUs.

Q: Is the Ryzen 5 9600X a strong CPU for this game?

A: Yes, the CPU is not the limiting factor. It ranks at the 81st percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 29713. Its nearest rivals, such as the Ryzen 7 7840H and Ryzen 7 5800XT, are within 0.8% performance, so any of these CPUs would produce similar frame rates.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 4K with High settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with High settings, the average FPS is 23. This is far below the playable threshold, and the system is not suitable for 4K gameplay at any preset.

Q: Does the Medium preset at 1080p ever hit 60 FPS?

A: The average is 57 FPS, with a minimum of 48 FPS and a maximum of 65 FPS. While the maximum exceeds 60 FPS, the average and minimum do not, so it does not meet the playable threshold.