Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7700 is a combination that targets high-refresh-rate 1080p and 1440p gaming. Benchmark data for Lockdown Protocol shows this pairing is capable of delivering smooth performance across most settings, though the demands of 4K Ultra present a notable challenge. The data indicates a balanced system where the GPU handles the graphical load effectively, but the 4-core CPU becomes a limiting factor at lower resolutions and high frame rates.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Based on aggregate benchmark scores, the Intel Core i3-12100F sits near a cluster of CPUs with nearly identical average performance. The closest rival is the Intel Core 3 N355, with an average score of 13,492 compared to the i3-12100F's 13,494, resulting in a negligible 0% delta. The Intel Core i5-9500 is also extremely close, scoring 13,452, which is 0.3% slower. On the other side, the Intel Core 5 120UL scores 13,594, making it 0.7% faster than the i3-12100F, while the Intel Core i7-1250U scores 13,351, placing it 1.1% slower. In practical terms, these processors would deliver essentially identical frame rates in Lockdown Protocol, meaning a system with any of these CPUs would behave the same in CPU-bound scenarios.

For the GPU side, the AMD Radeon RX 7700 has an average benchmark score of 15,852, placing it in direct competition with the AMD Radeon R9 370X, which scores 15,862 and is 0.1% faster. The AMD Radeon RX 9060 is a bit further ahead, scoring 16,014, which represents a 1% performance advantage over the RX 7700. Conversely, the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 scores 15,679, making it 1.1% slower, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti scores 16,129, which is 1.7% faster than the RX 7700. These deltas are minimal, so users upgrading from or considering these alternatives would see nearly identical frame rates in Lockdown Protocol.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals a clear pattern regarding which component takes on the heavier load at different resolutions. At 3840x2160, the GPU is the dominant factor, as seen by the steep drop in frame rates as settings increase. The average FPS falls from 95 at Low to 67 at Medium, and then down to 44 at Ultra, demonstrating that the RX 7700 struggles to maintain high throughput at 4K with maxed-out settings. The CPU's role is diminished at this resolution because the GPU is saturated. At 2560x1440, the balance shifts somewhat. The average FPS ranges from 147 at Low to 104 at Medium, and then to 68 at Ultra, showing that while the GPU is still heavily taxed, the CPU has enough headroom to push higher frame rates at lower settings. This trend becomes more pronounced at 1920x1080, where the CPU's 4 cores and 8 threads begin to show their limits. At 1080p Low, the system hits a 200 FPS average, but that figure drops to 124 at High and 93 at Ultra. The scaling between resolutions suggests that at 1080p, the i3-12100F cannot fully keep up with the GPU's capability at lower settings, making the CPU a bottleneck in that scenario. At 4K, the GPU is the clear bottleneck, while at 1440p, the pairing is well-balanced.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160 resolution, benchmark results show the game is playable but not consistently smooth at the highest settings. The system achieves an average of 59 FPS on High settings, which just misses the 60 FPS threshold, while the Low preset yields an average of 95 FPS. The Medium preset offers an average of 67 FPS, with a minimum of 57 and a maximum of 77. The Ultra preset drops to an average of 44 FPS, making it the only setting at 4K that falls significantly below the playable threshold.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance is notably stronger. The High preset averages 91 FPS, and Low settings push to an average of 147 FPS. The Medium preset returns an average of 104 FPS, with a minimum of 88 and a maximum of 120. At Ultra, the system still outputs an average of 68 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are high across the board. The High preset averages 124 FPS, while Low delivers a 200 FPS average. The Medium preset averages 142 FPS, with a minimum of 121 and a maximum of 163. The Ultra preset at 1080p yields an average of 93 FPS, which is still well above the playable threshold.

The Verdict

The data indicates that this PC can run Lockdown Protocol successfully in most configurations. Benchmark results show that at 3840x2160, the system clears the 60 FPS threshold on both Low and Medium presets, with the best playable experience being at Medium settings, which yields an average of 67 FPS. Ultra at 4K is not playable, as it averages only 44 FPS. At 2560x1440, the verdict is more straightforward: all four presets (High, Low, Medium, Ultra) are eligible for play, with the highest performance at Ultra settings averaging 68 FPS. Similarly, at 1920x1080, every setting from Low to Ultra is playable, with the Ultra preset averaging a strong 93 FPS. For users aiming for a buttery-smooth 60 FPS, this system meets that bar at 1440p and 1080p with Ultra settings, and at 4K provides a playable experience on Medium or Low. The best visual experience that maintains a comfortable frame rate is 1440p Ultra, since it balances a high fidelity with a 68 FPS average.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the benchmark database, this specific configuration of the Intel Core i3-12100F and AMD Radeon RX 7700 holds a rank of 1,709 out of a total of 3,714 tested combinations for Lockdown Protocol. This places the combo in the 46th percentile of all tested systems, meaning it outperforms a slight majority of other pairings. However, the rank indicates that while this is a solid mid-pack performer, many other combinations of CPUs and GPUs deliver higher frame rates in this game. The relative weakness comes from the CPU, which is only in the 68th percentile against all CPUs, while the GPU is in the 58th percentile against all GPUs. Neither component is top-tier, but they work together to produce a configuration that lands in the upper half of tested systems for this particular title.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i3-12100F + AMD Radeon RX 7700 combo better than a system with an Intel Core i5-9500?

A: The data suggests they are functionally identical. The Core i3-12100F and Core i5-9500 have an average benchmark score difference of 0.3%, with the i3-12100F being slightly faster, so in-game performance in Lockdown Protocol would be nearly the same.

*Q: Can this PC run Lockdown Protocol at 4K Ultra settings at 60 FPS?*

A: No. The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 Ultra is 44 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The system only achieves 60+ FPS at 4K with Low and Medium settings.

Q: What is the best settings preset for this combo at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the verdict data indicates that all presets (High, Low, Medium, Ultra) are playable. The "best" setting is Ultra, which yields an average of 68 FPS, but the CPU is strong enough to handle it.

Q: Does the GPU bottleneck the CPU at 1080p?

A: The data suggests the opposite. At 1920x1080, the average FPS jumps from 124 at High to 200 at Low, indicating that the CPU is limiting the frame rate at lower settings, while the GPU has more headroom. This points to the CPU being a potential bottleneck at 1080p.

Q: How does the RX 7700 compare to the RTX 3060 Ti in this context?

A: The RTX 3060 Ti has an average benchmark score that is 1.7% higher than the RX 7700. Therefore, a system with the RTX 3060 Ti would be slightly faster in GPU-bound scenarios, but the difference is small.

Q: What is the performance rank for this combo across all tested systems?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100F and AMD Radeon RX 7700 combination ranks 1,709th out of 3,714 combos tested for Lockdown Protocol, placing it in the upper half of all systems.