Lockdown Protocol

Can Intel Core i3-12100F + AMD Radeon RX 9070 run Lockdown Protocol? Measured data confirms this pairing is a high-refresh 1080p and 1440p machine, with surprising 4K capability. The Radeon RX 9070 provides the bulk of the rendering muscle, while the Core i3-12100F keeps frame pacing stable across all tested presets. Benchmark results place this combo in the top tier of tested configurations, with the data indicating that the CPU does not bottleneck the GPU at standard gaming resolutions. The following analysis breaks down the measured FPS, optimal settings, and comparative standing for this specific hardware pairing.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 demonstrates strong scaling across the four tested presets. Low settings deliver an average of 117.8 FPS, which is the highest frame rate at this resolution. Medium settings produce an average of 81.9 FPS, while High settings yield 70.1 FPS. The most demanding preset, Ultra, drops to an average of 55.5 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The data shows a clear progression: moving from Low to Medium costs 35.9 FPS, and stepping up to High costs another 11.8 FPS. The jump from High to Ultra is comparatively smaller at 14.6 FPS, but it pushes the average below the playable mark.

At 2560x1440, the combo delivers excellent headroom. Low settings average 182.1 FPS, which is a substantial 64.3 FPS increase over the 4K Low result. Medium settings hit 130.4 FPS, High settings reach 111.6 FPS, and Ultra settings maintain 82.5 FPS. Every preset at 1440p stays well above 60 FPS, with the Ultra preset still holding a 22.5 FPS margin over the playable threshold. The scaling pattern here shows diminishing returns as settings increase: Low to Medium is a 51.7 FPS drop, Medium to High is an 18.8 FPS drop, and High to Ultra is a 29.1 FPS drop.

At 1920x1080, the results are exceptional. Low settings average 248.2 FPS, which is the highest recorded average across all resolutions and presets. Medium settings produce 177.1 FPS, High settings yield 149.9 FPS, and Ultra settings still maintain 115.7 FPS. The delta between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 132.5 FPS, yet even the most demanding preset nearly doubles the 60 FPS threshold. The data indicates that this resolution is where the Core i3-12100F and Radeon RX 9070 combination shines brightest, with no preset dropping below 100 FPS average.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is High, with an average of 70.1 FPS. The data shows that Ultra falls short at 55.5 FPS, making High the optimal choice for 4K gaming. This provides a 10.1 FPS buffer above the playable threshold, which is sufficient for maintaining smooth gameplay in most scenarios.

At 2560x1440, the best settings are Ultra, which averages 82.5 FPS. This is the highest preset available, and it clears the 60 FPS threshold by 22.5 FPS. All four presets are playable at 1440p, but Ultra offers the maximum visual fidelity while still delivering a comfortable frame rate margin. The data suggests that users can max out the game at this resolution without sacrificing playability.

At 1920x1080, the best settings are also Ultra, with an average of 115.7 FPS. This is the most demanding preset, and it delivers more than double the playable threshold. The 1080p Ultra result is 33.2 FPS higher than the 1440p Ultra result, demonstrating that the resolution scaling favors this combo at lower pixel counts. For competitive play, Low settings at 1080p hit 248.2 FPS, which would be ideal for high-refresh monitors.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank for this specific pairing in Lockdown Protocol is 1075 out of 3714 tested combinations. This places the Core i3-12100F and Radeon RX 9070 in the 71st percentile of all tested configs, meaning it outperforms roughly 71% of other combinations. The data indicates a strong overall position, though the CPU's 4-core/8-thread configuration may limit performance in CPU-bound scenes compared to higher-end processors.

The CPU itself ranks at the 68th percentile among all tested CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 13494. This is a mid-range position, and the data shows that the Core i3-12100F sits close to several other processors in synthetic tests. The GPU, however, ranks at the 69th percentile among all tested GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 23877. The combination of a mid-tier CPU with a high-tier GPU results in a system that performs well in GPU-bound scenarios, which is typical for FPS titles like Lockdown Protocol.

The measured FPS data confirms this ranking: the combo delivers playable frame rates at every resolution except 4K Ultra. The 1075th rank out of 3714 suggests that while many combos are faster, this pairing offers a balanced experience that handles the game's demands effectively across most settings.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU's nearest rivals in benchmark scores provide context for its performance. The Intel Core 3 N355 scores 13492, a delta of 0% from the Core i3-12100F's 13494 average. The Intel Core i5-9500 scores 13452, which is 0.3% slower. The Intel Core 5 120UL scores 13594, which is 0.7% faster, and the Intel Core i7-1250U scores 13351, which is 1.1% slower. These deltas are minimal, meaning any of these CPUs would produce nearly identical frame rates in Lockdown Protocol when paired with the same GPU.

For the GPU, the nearest rivals show a similar pattern. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN Z scores 23736, which is 0.6% slower than the RX 9070's 23877. The AMD Radeon RX 6800S scores 24063, which is 0.8% faster. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Mobile scores 23628, which is 1.1% slower, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER scores 24170, which is 1.2% faster. These differences are within a narrow band, suggesting that swapping the RX 9070 for any of these GPUs would yield comparable FPS in Lockdown Protocol.

A combo using the Intel Core 3 N355 with the AMD Radeon RX 6800S would behave nearly identically to the tested configuration, with the CPU being 0% different and the GPU being 0.8% faster. Similarly, the Intel Core i5-9500 with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER would offer a slight CPU deficit of 0.3% and a GPU advantage of 1.2%, resulting in a net performance that is close to the original pairing.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combo at 1920x1080?

A: The highest average FPS is 248.2, achieved at Low settings in 1920x1080 resolution.

Q: Can this combo run Lockdown Protocol at 4K Ultra settings?

A: No, the 3840x2160 Ultra preset averages 55.5 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: Which resolution offers the best balance of visual quality and performance?

A: At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset averages 82.5 FPS, providing maximum visual fidelity with a comfortable 22.5 FPS margin above the playable threshold.

Q: How does the Core i3-12100F compare to its closest rival in CPU benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core 3 N355 scores 13492, which is a 0% delta from the Core i3-12100F's 13494 average, making them effectively equal in synthetic tests.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested configurations in Lockdown Protocol?

A: The combo ranks 1075 out of 3714 tested combinations, placing it in the 71st percentile of all tested systems.

Q: Is the 60 FPS threshold met at 3840x2160 with High settings?

A: Yes, the High preset at 3840x2160 averages 70.1 FPS, which exceeds the 60 FPS playable threshold by 10.1 FPS.

The Verdict

This PC can run Lockdown Protocol with strong performance across most resolutions. At 1920x1080, all four presets clear 60 FPS, with Ultra averaging 115.7 FPS and Low reaching 248.2 FPS. This makes 1080p the ideal resolution for high-refresh monitors, as even the most demanding settings deliver more than double the playable threshold. At 2560x1440, all presets also remain playable, with Ultra averaging 82.5 FPS and Low hitting 182.1 FPS. The 1440p results indicate that users can max out the game while maintaining smooth frame rates.

At 3840x2160, the situation is more nuanced. High settings average 70.1 FPS, which is playable, and Medium averages 81.9 FPS, while Low hits 117.8 FPS. However, Ultra drops to 55.5 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The verdict by resolution confirms this: 4K is playable at High, Low, and Medium, but not at Ultra. For 4K gaming, users should stick to High settings for the best balance of visuals and performance. Overall, the data shows that this combo is well-suited for Lockdown Protocol at 1080p and 1440p, with 4K requiring a slight settings compromise.