Lockdown Protocol

This combo pairs an AMD Ryzen 7 9700X with an Intel Arc B570 for playing Lockdown Protocol, an FPS title released in March 2024. The measured data shows a system that handles 1080p and 1440p gaming well, but struggles at 4K. The Ryzen 7 9700X is an 8-core, 16-thread Zen 5 processor on the AM5 socket, while the Arc B570 is a Battlemage-generation GPU with 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus.

How This Combo Ranks

The benchmark database places this specific CPU-GPU pairing at rank 2987 out of 3714 tested combos for Lockdown Protocol. That puts it in roughly the 80th percentile of all tested systems, meaning it outperforms a solid majority of configurations but sits well below the top-tier setups. The CPU itself holds an 86th percentile ranking against all CPUs, while the GPU sits at a 65th percentile against all GPUs. This gap matters: the processor is clearly the stronger component in this pairing, and the GPU becomes the limiting factor in demanding scenarios.

The data indicates this is a mid-pack performer for this specific title. It will run the game, but it is not a combination that pushes high refresh rates at maximum settings on high-resolution displays. The measured average FPS values confirm this positioning, with the combo delivering its best results at 1080p and progressively losing steam as resolution climbs.

CPU and GPU Roles

Benchmark results show a clear pattern in how the CPU and GPU split responsibilities across resolutions. At 1920x1080, the system delivers 136 FPS on Low settings, which drops to 84 FPS on High and 63 FPS on Ultra. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p shows a 73 FPS swing, indicating that the GPU has enough headroom at lower settings but gets taxed heavily as visual quality increases. The CPU is not the bottleneck here; the GPU handles the workload across all presets.

Moving to 2560x1440, the numbers shift downward: 100 FPS on Low, 71 FPS on Medium, 62 FPS on High, and 46 FPS on Ultra. The gap between Low and Ultra narrows to 54 FPS, showing that the GPU’s performance ceiling is being approached. At this resolution, the GPU still dictates performance, but the margin between presets shrinks compared to 1080p.

At 3840x2160, the picture changes dramatically. The system manages 64 FPS on Low, 46 FPS on Medium, 40 FPS on High, and 30 FPS on Ultra. The spread from Low to Ultra is only 34 FPS, and even the lowest preset barely clears the 60 FPS threshold. Here, the GPU is clearly the dominant constraint. The Ryzen 7 9700X has ample processing power, but the Arc B570’s 10 GB memory buffer and 160-bit bus cannot sustain high frame rates at 4K. The scaling between resolutions confirms this: dropping from 1440p to 1080p at High settings improves FPS by 22, while moving from 1440p to 4K at High settings costs 22 FPS.

FAQ

Q: Can this system maintain 60 FPS at 1080p with maximum settings?

A: Yes. The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings is 63 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS playable threshold. The system also delivers 96 FPS on Medium and 84 FPS on High at this resolution.

Q: What is the best preset for 1440p gaming?

A: High settings at 2560x1440 produce an average of 62 FPS, which is the highest preset that stays above 60 FPS. Medium settings yield 71 FPS, while Ultra drops to 46 FPS.

Q: Is 4K gaming viable with this hardware?

A: Only at Low settings. The 3840x2160 resolution with Low presets averages 64 FPS, but Medium drops to 46 FPS, High falls to 40 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 30 FPS. The playable threshold of 60 FPS is only met at the lowest visual quality.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Arc B570 has an average benchmark score of 20556. The Intel Arc A750 scores 20582, putting the B570 0.1% behind. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile scores 20534, which is 0.1% slower, and the AMD Radeon R9 M390X scores 20662, putting it 0.5% ahead. Performance is effectively identical across these four GPUs.

Q: How does the CPU stack up against similar processors?

A: The Ryzen 7 9700X has an average benchmark score of 37943. The Intel Core i9-14901E scores 37911 (0.1% slower), the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 scores 37904 (0.1% slower), the Intel Core 5 211E scores 37829 (0.3% slower), and the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P132 scores 37804 (0.4% slower). All five processors perform within a fraction of a percent of each other.

Q: Does the game run better at 1080p or 1440p?

A: The system achieves higher frame rates at 1080p across all presets. At High settings, 1080p delivers 84 FPS versus 62 FPS at 1440p. At Low settings, the gap is 136 FPS versus 100 FPS. The difference narrows at Ultra, where 1080p hits 63 FPS and 1440p manages 46 FPS.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the nearest rivals for both components gives a clear picture of what would behave similarly. On the CPU side, the Intel Core i9-14901E scores 37911, just 0.1% below the Ryzen 7 9700X’s 37943. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 scores 37904, also 0.1% behind. The Intel Core 5 211E and AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P132 round out the group with scores of 37829 and 37804, respectively. Any of these processors would deliver near-identical frame rates in Lockdown Protocol, as the differences are well within measurement noise.

On the GPU side, the Arc B570’s 20556 average score places it in a tight cluster. The Intel Arc A750 scores 20582, a 0.1% advantage. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile scores 20534, a 0.1% deficit. The AMD Radeon R9 M390X scores 20662, 0.5% ahead. Swapping the B570 for any of these would produce statistically indistinguishable performance in this game. The practical takeaway is that this system’s behavior represents a broad class of mid-range hardware, and users should expect similar results from any of these alternatives.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, which delivers an average of 63 FPS. This is the full visual experience at standard HD resolution. Medium settings push higher to 96 FPS, and Low reaches 136 FPS, but Ultra is the ceiling for maintaining playability.

At 2560x1440, High settings are the best choice, averaging 62 FPS. Medium runs at 71 FPS and Low at 100 FPS, but Ultra falls to 46 FPS, which misses the 60 FPS threshold. High is the sweet spot for visual fidelity and smooth gameplay at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, only Low settings clear the bar, producing 64 FPS on average. Medium drops to 46 FPS, High to 40 FPS, and Ultra to 30 FPS. Users who prioritize 4K will have to accept minimal visual quality to keep the game playable.

The Verdict

This PC can run Lockdown Protocol, but the experience depends heavily on resolution and settings. At 1920x1080, the system clears 60 FPS at every preset, including Ultra at 63 FPS. This is the strongest use case for the combo, offering smooth gameplay with full visual features. At 2560x1440, the system remains playable at High settings with 62 FPS, and Medium at 71 FPS provides extra headroom. Ultra at 1440p is not viable, falling to 46 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the verdict is mixed. Low settings average 64 FPS, which technically meets the playable threshold, but Medium, High, and Ultra all fall below 60 FPS. The data shows the GPU is the limiting factor at 4K, and the Ryzen 7 9700X’s strong CPU performance cannot compensate for the Arc B570’s bandwidth constraints. For 1080p and 1440p gaming, this is a capable combination. For 4K, it requires significant compromises in visual quality to maintain smooth frame rates.