Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol is a fast-paced FPS that demands a solid balance between CPU and GPU throughput. The data recorded for the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X paired with the Intel Arc B370 shows a combination that is firmly below the playable threshold for most settings. The 60 FPS target is only achievable at 1080p with the lowest settings. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, the role each component plays, and what alternatives exist for users considering this hardware pairing.

Best Settings per Resolution

Based on the measured frame rates, the playable threshold of 60 FPS is only reached at one resolution and one preset combination.

At 1920x1080, the Low preset is the only playable option. The recorded average frame rate at this setting is 80 FPS, which provides enough headroom above the 60 FPS target for stable gameplay. The Medium preset at 1080p drops to an average of 57 FPS, which falls short of the playable threshold. High and Ultra average 49 FPS and 37 FPS, respectively, making them unsuitable for maintaining a consistent 60 FPS experience.

At 2560x1440, no settings reach the 60 FPS mark. The Low preset comes closest with an average of 58 FPS, but this is still below the playable threshold. Medium averages 42 FPS, High averages 36 FPS, and Ultra averages 27 FPS. The verdict for this resolution is that no playable settings exist for this combo.

At 3840x2160, the situation is worse. Low averages 38 FPS, Medium averages 27 FPS, High averages 23 FPS, and Ultra averages 18 FPS. None of these approach the 60 FPS target, so 4K gaming with this combo is not viable for Lockdown Protocol.

The practical takeaway is straightforward: if you own this CPU and GPU combination, plan to play at 1080p with the Low preset. That is the only configuration that delivers the required frame rate.

CPU and GPU Roles

The recorded data shows a clear pattern of GPU limitation across all resolutions. The Intel Arc B370 has a modest average benchmark score of 1184 in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, which places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. This is an extremely low position, indicating that the graphics card is the primary bottleneck.

Evidence for this comes from the scaling between resolutions and presets. At 1080p, reducing settings from Ultra to Low increases the average frame rate from 37 FPS to 80 FPS, a gain of 43 FPS. At 1440p, the same preset change moves from 27 FPS to 58 FPS, a gain of 31 FPS. At 4K, the change from Ultra to Low moves from 18 FPS to 38 FPS, a gain of 20 FPS. The fact that lowering graphical settings yields such large improvements indicates that the GPU is doing the heavy lifting and is the limiting factor.

The CPU, the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X, is a much stronger component in relative terms. It sits in the 84th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 34260. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350, the AMD EPYC 4244P, and the Intel Core i5-13450HX, all within about 0.5% of its score. This CPU has 8 cores and 16 threads, and its recorded performance in tests like Cinebench R15 multicore (2092) and Passmark multithread (22458) shows it is more than capable of feeding a GPU.

The resolution scaling reinforces this. When moving from 1080p Low to 1440p Low, the frame rate drops from 80 FPS to 58 FPS, a 27.5% reduction. Moving from 1440p Low to 4K Low drops from 58 FPS to 38 FPS, another 34.5% reduction. These large drops with increasing pixel count are the signature of a GPU-bound scenario. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rate would remain relatively flat across resolutions. The data shows otherwise, confirming that the Arc B370 is the limiting component. For users looking to improve performance, replacing the GPU would yield the largest gains.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete set of recorded frame rates is as follows.

1920x1080:

• Ultra: average 37 FPS
• High: average 49 FPS
• Medium: average 57 FPS, with a minimum of 48 FPS and a maximum of 65 FPS
• Low: average 80 FPS

At 1080p, the Medium preset has a recorded min-max range of 48 to 65 FPS. This means the average is below the target, and there are moments where the frame rate dips into the 40s, which will cause noticeable stutter in a fast FPS. The Low preset, with an average of 80 FPS, has no recorded min or max values in the data, but the average suggests a much more stable experience.

2560x1440:

• Ultra: average 27 FPS
• High: average 36 FPS
• Medium: average 42 FPS, with a minimum of 35 FPS and a maximum of 48 FPS
• Low: average 58 FPS

At 1440p, the Medium preset shows a range of 35 to 48 FPS. This is below the 60 FPS target across the board. The Low preset at 58 FPS is tantalizingly close to the threshold but still misses it. Users with adaptive sync displays might find the Low preset acceptable, but strict 60 FPS gameplay is not possible.

3840x2160:

• Ultra: average 18 FPS
• High: average 23 FPS
• Medium: average 27 FPS, with a minimum of 23 FPS and a maximum of 31 FPS
• Low: average 38 FPS

At 4K, the Medium preset has a recorded range of 23 to 31 FPS. This is firmly in slideshow territory for a competitive shooter. Even the Low preset at 38 FPS is far below the playable threshold. The data indicates that 4K is not a viable resolution for this game with this combo.

The overall pattern is consistent: every step down in settings or resolution yields a proportional increase in frame rate, with the GPU being the limiting factor at all times.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X and Intel Arc B370 combination is ranked 3427 out of 3714 tested combos in the database for Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the bottom 8% of all systems tested. This is a very low ranking, reflecting the fact that the GPU is extremely weak relative to the rest of the field.

The CPU alone is in the 84th percentile of all CPUs, which is a solid position. The GPU, however, is in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. This massive disparity between the two components is the reason for the low overall rank. The system is massively unbalanced, with a strong CPU being held back by a very weak GPU.

For context on the GPU, the Intel Arc B370's nearest rivals in the database are the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, the ATI Radeon HD 5770, and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M. These are all older or lower-end parts, and the Arc B370 performs within 1.4% of them. This places the GPU in a performance class that is simply not suited for modern FPS titles at high settings.

The rank of 3427 means that the vast majority of other tested combinations will outperform this one in Lockdown Protocol. Users should not expect competitive frame rates or high visual fidelity with this pairing.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For users looking to understand what other hardware behaves similarly, the nearest rivals for each component provide a useful reference.

On the CPU side, the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X has several close competitors. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 scores 34222, which is 0.1% lower. The AMD EPYC 4244P scores 34220, also 0.1% lower. The Intel Core i5-13450HX scores 34333, which is 0.2% higher. The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H scores 34083, which is 0.5% lower. Any of these CPUs would behave nearly identically to the 3700X in terms of overall compute capability. If a system builder has one of these processors, the performance in Lockdown Protocol would be essentially the same, assuming the same GPU is used.

On the GPU side, the Intel Arc B370 is closely matched with the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, which scores 1186 (0.2% higher), the ATI Radeon HD 5770, which scores 1190 (0.5% higher), and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M, which scores 1192 (0.7% higher). The AMD FirePro M2000 scores 1168, which is 1.4% lower. These GPUs all sit in the same performance tier. A system with any of these graphics cards paired with a similar CPU would produce frame rates within a few percent of the measurements recorded for the Arc B370. The practical takeaway is that this GPU class is the limiting factor, and any of these alternatives would deliver similar results.

For a user considering an upgrade path, the data is clear. Swapping the CPU to a slightly faster model like the Intel Core i5-13450HX would yield a negligible performance gain of 0.2% in compute benchmarks. Swapping the GPU to a faster model, however, is the only way to meaningfully improve frame rates in Lockdown Protocol. The GPU is the bottleneck, and no CPU-side change will fix that.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Lockdown Protocol at 1080p?

A: Yes, but only at the Low preset. The recorded average frame rate at 1920x1080 with Low settings is 80 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold. Medium, High, and Ultra all fall below 60 FPS.

Q: What is the best playable setting at 1440p?

A: There is no playable setting at 2560x1440. The Low preset averages 58 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. Medium averages 42 FPS, High averages 36 FPS, and Ultra averages 27 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor. The Intel Arc B370 is in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, while the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is in the 84th percentile of all CPUs. Frame rates drop significantly when increasing resolution or settings, indicating a GPU bottleneck.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested systems?

A: This combo is ranked 3427 out of 3714 tested combinations for Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the bottom 8% of all systems in the database.

Q: What GPUs perform similarly to the Intel Arc B370?

A: The nearest rivals are the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, which scores 1186 (0.2% higher), the ATI Radeon HD 5770, which scores 1190 (0.5% higher), and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M, which scores 1192 (0.7% higher). All of these will produce similar frame rates.

Q: Is 4K gaming possible with this hardware?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the highest average frame rate is 38 FPS on the Low preset. Medium averages 27 FPS, High averages 23 FPS, and Ultra averages 18 FPS. All are far below the 60 FPS playable threshold.