Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol, an FPS released on March 11, 2024, presents a demanding workload for the unusual pairing of the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D and the Intel Arc B390. The data shows a stark asymmetry: a flagship desktop processor paired with an integrated GPU. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D, an 8-core, 16-thread Zen 5 part with a boost clock of 5.20 GHz, holds an 87th percentile rank among all CPUs. The Intel Arc B390, a 3 nm integrated part with 1,536 shading units, sits at the 9th percentile among GPUs. Measured frame rates indicate that this combo can clear the 60 FPS threshold at 1080p with Medium settings and at 1440p with Low settings, but it fails to reach 60 FPS at 4K on any preset. The verdict is clear: this system is playable only at lower resolutions and presets.

FAQ

Q: What is the playable threshold for Lockdown Protocol in the database?

A: The database defines a playable threshold of 60 FPS. All verdicts and best-settings recommendations are based on maintaining an average frame rate at or above this mark.

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

A: Yes. At 1920x1080, Low settings average 88 FPS and Medium settings average 63 FPS, both clearing the 60 FPS threshold. High settings average 55 FPS and Ultra averages 41 FPS, so those presets are not playable.

Q: What about 1440p performance?

A: At 2560x1440, only Low settings are playable, averaging 65 FPS. Medium averages 46 FPS, High averages 40 FPS, and Ultra averages 30 FPS, all falling below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: Is 4K playable with this hardware?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the best result is Low settings at 42 FPS, which is below the threshold. Medium averages 30 FPS, High averages 26 FPS, and Ultra averages 19 FPS. No preset reaches 60 FPS at 4K.

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

A: The Ryzen 7 9800X3D has an average benchmark score of 39,768. Its nearest rivals, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS, AMD Ryzen AI 9 365, AMD Ryzen AI 7 450, and AMD Ryzen 7 7700, all fall within 0.8% of that score, indicating a very tight performance cluster.

Q: What is the GPU's standing relative to other graphics hardware?

A: The Intel Arc B390 has an average benchmark score of 1,482 and sits at the 9th percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, GT 800M, GT 625 OEM, and GT 710, all within 2.7% of its score, confirming its entry-level positioning.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU side of this combo is exceptionally well-matched to several other AMD processors. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D's average benchmark score of 39,768 is nearly identical to that of the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS (39,603, a 0.4% delta), the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 (40,048, a -0.7% delta), the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 (39,485, a 0.7% delta), and the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 (40,081, a -0.8% delta). In practice, any of these CPUs would deliver nearly identical frame rates in Lockdown Protocol when paired with the same GPU, because the processor is not the limiting factor in this configuration.

The GPU side is a different story. The Intel Arc B390's average benchmark score of 1,482 places it alongside a set of very old NVIDIA parts. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1,463, 1.3% delta), GeForce 800M (1,460, 1.5% delta), GeForce GT 625 OEM (1,446, 2.5% delta), and GeForce GT 710 (1,443, 2.7% delta) all perform within a few percentage points of the Arc B390. For a user considering this combo, swapping the Arc B390 for any of these GPUs would produce a similar experience: playable at 1080p Medium and 1440p Low, but not at higher presets or 4K. The CPU's performance headroom is enormous, but the GPU's 9th percentile standing means that any of these rival GPUs would create the same bottleneck.

How This Combo Ranks

The combined rank for this CPU and GPU pairing in Lockdown Protocol is 3,302 out of 3,714 tested combinations. That places the combo in the bottom 11% of all systems in the database. The ranking is heavily skewed by the GPU's poor standing. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D alone sits at the 87th percentile among CPUs, which would normally push a combo much higher. However, the Intel Arc B390's 9th percentile GPU score drags the overall ranking down dramatically. The data indicates that this is a classic case of a high-end processor being wasted on a low-end graphics solution. The measured frame rates confirm this: at 1080p Low, the system hits 88 FPS, but that number is almost entirely dependent on the GPU's ability to render frames. The CPU is never the bottleneck, as evidenced by its high single-thread and multi-thread scores (Cinebench R23 single-core 2,080, multi-core 23,230). In terms of overall system capability, this combo performs like a low-end gaming PC despite the flagship CPU.

The Verdict

Can this PC run Lockdown Protocol? Yes, but with significant limitations. The database's verdict by resolution is explicit:

• 3840x2160: No playable settings. The best average frame rate is 42 FPS at Low, which is well below the 60 FPS threshold. Medium (30 FPS), High (26 FPS), and Ultra (19 FPS) are all unplayable.
• 2560x1440: Only Low settings are playable, averaging 65 FPS. This clears the threshold, but Medium (46 FPS), High (40 FPS), and Ultra (30 FPS) do not.
• 1920x1080: Low (88 FPS) and Medium (63 FPS) are playable. High (55 FPS) and Ultra (41 FPS) fall short.

The most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS at 1080p is Medium, with an average of 63 FPS. At 1440p, the best playable setting is Low, averaging 65 FPS. At 4K, no preset is playable. Therefore, this system is suitable for 1080p gaming with medium quality, or 1440p gaming with low quality. It is not a 4K gaming machine, nor can it handle high or ultra presets at any resolution.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance data reveals a clear division of labor. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is a powerhouse, with a 3DMark 16-thread score of 10,081 and a Passmark multithread score of 40,009. Its 87th percentile ranking means it can handle any game logic, physics, and AI processing Lockdown Protocol throws at it. However, the Intel Arc B390, with a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1,482 and a 9th percentile ranking, is the definitive bottleneck.

Looking at resolution scaling, the GPU's dominance becomes obvious. At Low settings, average FPS drops from 88 at 1080p to 65 at 1440p (a 26% reduction) and then to 42 at 4K (a further 35% reduction). This steep decline across resolutions is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU's performance does not change with resolution, so the entire drop is attributable to the GPU's rendering workload.

Preset scaling tells the same story. At 1080p, moving from Low (88 FPS) to Medium (63 FPS) to High (55 FPS) to Ultra (41 FPS) shows a continuous decline that tracks the increasing GPU load. The CPU has ample headroom, as evidenced by its single-thread performance (3DMark single-thread 1,212, Geekbench single-core 2,964). At 4K, even Low settings only manage 42 FPS, which is a GPU limitation, not a CPU one. The conclusion is that for this game, the GPU is the sole limiting factor at every resolution. The CPU's role is to feed the GPU with data, and it does so effortlessly, but the GPU cannot translate that into higher frame rates. Users should focus entirely on GPU settings when optimizing this combo.

Best Settings per Resolution

Based on the measured frame rates and the 60 FPS playable threshold, the optimal settings are as follows:

• 1920x1080: The most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Medium, with an average of 63 FPS (min 53, max 72). Low settings average 88 FPS, but Medium offers a better visual quality while still clearing the threshold.
• 2560x1440: The only playable preset is Low, with an average of 65 FPS. Medium drops to 46 FPS, so Low is the maximum playable setting at this resolution.
• 3840x2160: No preset reaches 60 FPS. The best result is Low at 42 FPS, but this is below the threshold, so no settings are recommended for 4K play.

For users who prioritize frame rate over visual fidelity, 1080p Low delivers 88 FPS, and 1440p Low delivers 65 FPS. For the best balance of quality and performance, 1080p Medium at 63 FPS is the recommended configuration. This combo is not capable of 4K gaming, and higher presets at 1440p or 1080p will result in sub-60 FPS performance.