Lockdown Protocol

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X paired with the Intel Arc B570 is a capable 1080p and 1440p gaming combination for Lockdown Protocol, but it falls short of a smooth experience at 4K. The data indicates that this system delivers playable frame rates at 1080p across all settings and at 1440p up to High settings, while 4K gaming is limited to Low settings to maintain a 60 FPS average.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured performance data for this combination reveals a clear performance hierarchy across resolutions and presets. The system's frame rate drops predictably as resolution and graphical fidelity increase, but the margins between settings vary significantly.

At 1920x1080, the system demonstrates its strongest performance. With Low settings, the average frame rate reaches 136 FPS, providing a substantial buffer above the 60 FPS playable threshold. Moving to Medium settings, the average drops to 96 FPS, with a minimum of 82 FPS and a maximum of 111 FPS, indicating consistent performance without significant dips. High settings yield an average of 84 FPS, which remains comfortably playable. The most demanding Ultra preset still manages an average of 63 FPS, just above the playability threshold, meaning the system can handle maximum fidelity at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, performance scales downward but remains respectable. Low settings produce an average of 100 FPS, demonstrating that the GPU has headroom at this resolution when visual effects are reduced. Medium settings deliver 71 FPS on average, with a minimum of 60 FPS and a maximum of 81 FPS, which keeps the experience smooth. High settings average 62 FPS, barely clearing the 60 FPS threshold, while Ultra settings fall to an average of 46 FPS, which is below the playable mark and would result in noticeable stuttering during intense action.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain playable performance except at the lowest preset. Low settings achieve an average of 64 FPS, just above the threshold. Medium settings drop to 46 FPS on average, with a minimum of 39 FPS and a maximum of 52 FPS, indicating significant frame drops that would impact gameplay. High settings average 40 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 30 FPS, both well below the playable threshold. The data shows a steep performance cliff between Low and Medium settings at 4K, suggesting the GPU is the limiting factor at this resolution.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X indicate that CPU performance is not a bottleneck in this configuration. The Ryzen 9 7900X has an average benchmark score of 53288, placing it in the 91st percentile of all CPUs. Its closest competitors include the AMD EPYC 7313P with an average score of 53206, a negligible 0.2% difference, and the Intel Xeon Phi 7290 with a score of 53469, which is 0.3% higher. The Intel Xeon 634 scores 52974, 0.6% lower, and the Intel Core i7-14700F scores 53620, 0.6% higher. These tiny deltas mean that swapping the CPU for any of these alternatives would produce virtually identical frame rates in Lockdown Protocol, as the game's performance at higher resolutions is dominated by the GPU.

For the Intel Arc B570, the GPU benchmark landscape shows an average score of 20556, placing it in the 65th percentile of all GPUs. The nearest rivals are remarkably close in performance. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile scores 20534, just 0.1% lower, while the Intel Arc A750 scores 20582, 0.1% higher. The NVIDIA Quadro M4000M and AMD Radeon R9 M390X score 20480 and 20662 respectively, with deltas of 0.4% and -0.5%. This clustering indicates that any of these GPUs would deliver nearly identical FPS numbers in this game. Users with an Intel Arc A750, for instance, can expect the same playability profile across resolutions and settings.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that maintains at least 60 FPS is Ultra, which averages 63 FPS. This is the optimal choice for users seeking maximum visual quality while staying above the playable threshold. The data shows that all four presets at this resolution clear 60 FPS, so there is no compromise needed.

At 2560x1440, the best settings are High, which achieves an average of 62 FPS. Ultra falls below the threshold at 46 FPS, so users must accept High as the ceiling for smooth gameplay. Medium settings also remain viable at 71 FPS, but High offers superior visuals while staying just above the 60 FPS line.

For 3840x2160, only Low settings are playable, with an average of 64 FPS. Medium drops to 46 FPS, which is below the threshold, so users at this resolution must significantly reduce visual quality to achieve a playable experience.

The Verdict

The verdict data confirms that this system can run Lockdown Protocol, but the playability depends heavily on resolution. At 1920x1080, the system clears 60 FPS on every preset, including Ultra at 63 FPS, making it fully capable of a high-quality experience. At 2560x1440, High settings are the best playable option at 62 FPS, with Low and Medium also clearing the threshold. Ultra is not playable at this resolution, averaging only 46 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the system barely qualifies as playable, with only Low settings achieving an average of 64 FPS. This is sufficient for a playable experience, but users should expect reduced visual fidelity. Medium, High, and Ultra all fall below 60 FPS, with averages of 46, 40, and 30 FPS respectively. The data suggests that 4K gaming is possible but requires substantial compromise, while 1080p and 1440p offer much more flexibility.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance scaling across resolutions reveals that the GPU is the primary bottleneck in this system for Lockdown Protocol. At 1080p, the frame rate drops from 136 FPS at Low to 63 FPS at Ultra, a reduction of 73 FPS that is driven by increasing GPU load. The CPU, which scores in the 91st percentile and has a 12-core, 24-thread configuration, provides ample processing power for the game's FPS mechanics.

The evidence for GPU dominance is strongest at 4K. The frame rate plummets from 64 FPS at Low to 30 FPS at Ultra, a 34 FPS drop that cannot be attributed to CPU limitations. The Ryzen 9 7900X's benchmark scores, including a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 29300 and a Geekbench multicore score of 19267, indicate that it can handle the game's CPU demands without issue.

However, at 1440p, the CPU begins to show relevance. The gap between Low and High settings is 38 FPS (100 to 62), which is larger than the 52 FPS gap at 1080p (136 to 84) in absolute terms, but the percentage drop is similar. The CPU's single-thread performance, measured at 4238 in Passmark single-thread tests, ensures that the game's core logic and physics calculations do not become a limiting factor even at lower resolutions where the GPU has more headroom.

The data indicates that users upgrading from a weaker CPU would see minimal gains in this game, while upgrading the GPU would directly impact frame rates at all resolutions, particularly at 4K where the Arc B570's 10 GB of GDDR6 memory and 380.0 GB/s bandwidth are stretched to their limits.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Lockdown Protocol at 60 FPS on Ultra settings?

A: Only at 1920x1080. The system averages 63 FPS at 1080p Ultra, which is playable. At 2560x1440 Ultra, the average drops to 46 FPS, and at 3840x2160 Ultra, it falls to 30 FPS, both below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: What is the best resolution for this PC in Lockdown Protocol?

A: 1920x1080 is the best resolution, as all four presets clear 60 FPS, with Ultra averaging 63 FPS. At 2560x1440, only Low, Medium, and High are playable, and at 3840x2160, only Low is playable.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck in this configuration?

A: No. The Ryzen 9 7900X scores in the 91st percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 53288, and its nearest rivals are within 0.6% of its performance. The frame rate scaling between presets and resolutions points to the GPU as the limiting factor.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B570 compare to other GPUs in this game?

A: The Arc B570's average benchmark score of 20556 is within 0.5% of its nearest rivals, including the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile and Intel Arc A750. Users with these GPUs would experience nearly identical frame rates.

Q: What settings should I use for 1440p gaming?

A: High settings are the best playable option, averaging 62 FPS. Medium settings also work at 71 FPS, but Ultra is not playable at 46 FPS. Low settings offer the highest frame rate at 100 FPS but with reduced visual quality.

Q: Is 4K gaming possible with this hardware?

A: Yes, but only with Low settings, which average 64 FPS. Medium settings drop to 46 FPS, so users must accept significant visual compromises to play at 4K.