Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT is a high-performing combination for Lockdown Protocol, ranking 1139th out of 3714 tested combos. This placement puts it in the top third of all systems tested, indicating that while it is not an absolute top-tier setup, it delivers well above-average performance for this FPS title. The data shows a system that is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions, with the CPU providing sufficient headroom to avoid bottlenecking the graphics card in most scenarios.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank of 1139 out of 3714 places it in the 69th percentile of all tested configurations. This is a strong showing, but the ranking alone does not tell the full story. The RX 6800 XT sits at the 85th percentile among all GPUs, while the i3-12100F is at the 68th percentile among all CPUs. This significant gap in relative performance strongly suggests that the processor is the limiting factor in this pairing, especially at lower resolutions where the GPU has more headroom to push frames.

At 1080p, the system achieves an average of 238.8 FPS on Low settings, which is extraordinary for a budget-oriented CPU. However, the scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p shows a drop from 238.8 FPS to 111.8 FPS, a reduction of approximately 53%. This substantial decrease indicates that while the GPU is capable of massive frame rates, the CPU begins to limit performance as the graphical load increases and the frame rate climbs higher. The ranking reflects this reality: the combo performs admirably but is held back from top-tier status by the 4-core, 8-thread processor.

When compared to the broader field, this combination outperforms the majority of systems, but it does not crack the top 1000. The data suggests that users with higher-end CPUs paired with the same GPU would see better results, particularly in CPU-bound scenarios. The 68th percentile CPU ranking versus the 85th percentile GPU ranking is a clear indicator of the imbalance in this pairing.

CPU and GPU Roles

The division of labor between the i3-12100F and the RX 6800 XT changes dramatically depending on resolution. At 1920x1080, the CPU plays a dominant role. The jump from Low to Medium settings at 1080p shows a modest decrease from 238.8 FPS to 175.1 FPS, but the drop from Medium to High (147.8 FPS) and High to Ultra (111.8 FPS) is more gradual. This pattern indicates that at 1080p, the GPU has enough power to render frames quickly, and the CPU’s 4-core architecture becomes the primary constraint on achieving even higher frame rates.

Moving to 2560x1440, the balance shifts. The average FPS at 1440p Ultra is 84.5, which is only about 24% lower than the 1080p Ultra result of 111.8 FPS. This relatively small penalty for a 78% increase in pixel count suggests that the GPU is now becoming the more significant factor. The i3-12100F has enough single-thread performance to feed the GPU at this resolution, allowing the RX 6800 XT to stretch its legs. The scaling from Low (178 FPS) to Ultra (84.5 FPS) at 1440p is more pronounced, showing that the GPU’s workload is increasing substantially.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is unequivocally the bottleneck. The difference between Low (113.7 FPS) and Ultra (55.7 FPS) at 4K is stark, with the Ultra preset falling below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The CPU’s role diminishes further at this resolution, as the RX 6800 XT is pushed to its limits. The data shows that the i3-12100F can keep up with the GPU at 4K, but the graphics card itself cannot handle the most demanding settings. This resolution scaling demonstrates that the system is well-balanced for 1440p gaming, where both components are utilized effectively.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Lockdown Protocol at 4K with playable frame rates?

A: Yes, but not on Ultra settings. The data shows playable performance at High (74 FPS), Medium (82 FPS), and Low (113.7 FPS) presets at 3840x2160. The Ultra preset falls to 55.7 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

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

A: The Ultra preset at 2560x1440 delivers an average of 84.5 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS threshold. This is the most demanding preset that remains playable at this resolution.

Q: How does the CPU affect performance at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the CPU is the limiting factor. The frame rate drops from 238.8 FPS on Low to 111.8 FPS on Ultra, a 53% reduction. This indicates that the i3-12100F cannot fully feed the RX 6800 XT at lower resolutions where the GPU could otherwise produce even higher frame rates.

Q: Is the RX 6800 XT overkill for this CPU?

A: The benchmark data suggests a performance imbalance. The GPU ranks at the 85th percentile among all GPUs, while the CPU ranks at the 68th percentile. At 1080p, the CPU holds back the GPU, but at 1440p and 4K, the combination is better matched, with the GPU becoming the primary bottleneck.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 4K?

A: At 3840x2160, the difference is substantial. Low settings produce 113.7 FPS, while Ultra produces 55.7 FPS. This is a reduction of approximately 51%, showing that the GPU is heavily stressed by the highest quality settings at this resolution.

Q: Does this combo maintain 60 FPS at all resolutions?

A: No. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 55.7, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. All other tested settings at all resolutions clear 60 FPS, with the lowest playable result being 4K High at 74 FPS.

The Verdict

This PC can run Lockdown Protocol with strong performance across most settings and resolutions. At 1920x1080, every preset clears 60 FPS, with the Ultra setting delivering an average of 111.8 FPS. This makes 1080p gaming exceptionally smooth, even with all graphical options maxed out. At 2560x1440, the system also handles every preset above the 60 FPS threshold, with Ultra averaging 84.5 FPS. This is the sweet spot for this combination, offering a balance of visual quality and high frame rates.

At 3840x2160, the system remains playable on High (74 FPS), Medium (82 FPS), and Low (113.7 FPS) settings. However, the Ultra preset falls to 55.7 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold. For 4K gaming, users should stick to High settings or lower to ensure a consistent experience. Overall, the data shows that this combo is highly capable for 1080p and 1440p gaming, and it can handle 4K with reasonable settings adjustments.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU’s nearest rivals in benchmark scores include the Intel Core 3 N355 with an average score of 13492 (0% difference), the Intel Core i5-9500 at 13452 (0.3% difference), and the Intel Core 7 1250U at 13351 (1.1% difference). These processors would deliver nearly identical performance to the i3-12100F in Lockdown Protocol, assuming the same GPU. The Intel Core 5 120UL scores slightly higher at 13594, which is 0.7% faster, but the difference is negligible in real-world gaming.

On the GPU side, the closest rivals are the NVIDIA RTX A1000 Mobile with an average score of 47743 (1.5% lower), the Intel Arc A550M at 49737 (2.5% higher), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti at 49957 (3% higher). The AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 scores 50001, which is 3% higher than the RX 6800 XT. These alternatives would produce very similar frame rates in Lockdown Protocol, with differences of only a few percentage points. For users considering this combo, swapping the CPU for one of these rivals or the GPU for a comparable model would result in nearly identical performance characteristics.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the best choice, delivering an average of 111.8 FPS. This is the most demanding setting that stays well above the 60 FPS threshold, providing the highest visual quality without sacrificing smoothness. At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset also remains the best option, with an average of 84.5 FPS. This resolution offers a good balance of detail and performance, with the Ultra settings providing a significant visual upgrade over High while still maintaining high frame rates.

At 3840x2160, the High preset is the most demanding option that clears 60 FPS, averaging 74 FPS. While the Medium preset is also playable at 82 FPS, High offers better visual fidelity without dropping below the playable threshold. The Ultra preset at 4K is not recommended, as its 55.7 FPS average falls short of the 60 FPS target. These settings represent the best trade-off between visual quality and performance at each resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers an average of 238.8 FPS on Low settings. This drops to 175.1 FPS on Medium, 147.8 FPS on High, and 111.8 FPS on Ultra. The frame rate scaling is consistent, with each preset tier reducing performance by a noticeable margin. The 1080p results show that the system is capable of extremely high frame rates, even at the highest quality settings.

At 2560x1440, the average FPS ranges from 178 on Low to 127.4 on Medium, 111.3 on High, and 84.5 on Ultra. The performance drop from Low to Ultra is approximately 53%, which is similar to the scaling seen at 1080p. This indicates that the GPU is handling the increased resolution efficiently, with the CPU maintaining its role as a secondary bottleneck.

At 3840x2160, the averages are 113.7 FPS on Low, 82 FPS on Medium, 74 FPS on High, and 55.7 FPS on Ultra. The gap between Medium and High is relatively small at 8 FPS, but the jump from High to Ultra results in an 18.3 FPS decrease. This steep drop at the highest preset highlights the GPU’s limitations at 4K resolution. The data shows that the system is most consistent at 1440p, where the performance curve is smooth and predictable across all settings.