Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol is a fast-paced FPS where frame pacing matters, and this Intel Core i5-12600KF + Intel Arc B570 pairing delivers a surprisingly wide range of experiences depending on your display. Benchmark results indicate that the system is genuinely capable of smooth 60+ FPS gameplay, but only if you are willing to adjust settings at higher resolutions. At 4K, the data shows a hard limit: only the Low preset consistently clears the playability threshold, while 1440p and 1080p offer much more headroom, with the latter allowing for maximum visual fidelity at a locked 60 FPS.

Best Settings per Resolution

The most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS varies sharply across resolutions. At 3840x2160, the data is unambiguous: the only playable option is the Low preset, which produces an average of 64 FPS. Every other preset—Medium, High, and Ultra—falls below the 60 FPS threshold, with average scores of 46, 40, and 30 FPS respectively. This means that for 4K gaming, you must sacrifice nearly all graphical fidelity to maintain playable performance.

Moving to 2560x1440, the situation improves considerably. The benchmark results show that the High preset is the most demanding option that still clears 60 FPS, achieving an average of 62 FPS. This is a significant jump from 4K, allowing for a much more visually rich experience. The Medium preset also remains playable at 71 FPS, but High is the best choice for image quality without dropping below the threshold. Notably, the Ultra preset at this resolution falls to 46 FPS, making it unplayable.

At 1920x1080, the system reaches its full potential. The data indicates that the Ultra preset, the most demanding setting available, maintains an average of 63 FPS. This is a rare result for this combination, as it allows for maximum visual settings at the most common gaming resolution. The High preset achieves 84 FPS, Medium hits 96 FPS, and Low reaches 136 FPS, but since Ultra is already above 60 FPS, it is the clear recommendation for the best experience.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance scaling across resolutions reveals a clear division of labor between the Intel Core i5-12600KF and the Intel Arc B570. At 3840x2160, the GPU is the dominant constraint. The frame rate drops from 64 FPS on Low to 30 FPS on Ultra, a 53% reduction in performance. This steep decline is a classic sign of GPU-bound rendering, where the Arc B570's 10 GB of memory and 11.52 TFLOPS of compute power are overwhelmed by the pixel count. The CPU, with its 10 cores and 16 threads, has ample headroom at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the balance shifts slightly, but the GPU remains the primary bottleneck. The average FPS scales from 100 on Low to 46 on Ultra, a 54% drop. The fact that the High preset only manages 62 FPS, barely above the threshold, suggests that the GPU is still working near its limits. The CPU's role is more supportive here, as reducing resolution to 1080p yields a much larger jump in performance, indicating that the CPU can feed the GPU effectively without becoming a limiting factor.

At 1920x1080, the CPU and GPU roles become more balanced. The GPU is no longer the sole constraint, as the Ultra preset achieves 63 FPS, only slightly below the High preset's 84 FPS. This smaller gap between presets (High to Ultra is just a 25% drop) compared to 4K indicates that the CPU is starting to contribute to overall performance. The i5-12600KF's single-thread score of 3302 in Cinebench R23 and its 3DMark single-thread score of 1016 suggest it has the raw speed to keep up with the Arc B570 at this resolution, but it is not the primary driver of frame rates.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed look at performance across all settings and resolutions. At 3840x2160, the system delivers an average of 64 FPS on Low, 46 FPS on Medium, 40 FPS on High, and 30 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset has the only complete min/max data, showing a range of 39 to 52 FPS, which indicates noticeable frame pacing fluctuations but no catastrophic stutters. The high preset's 40 FPS average is likely too inconsistent for competitive play, while Ultra is effectively a slideshow.

At 2560x1440, the results are more encouraging. Low settings produce an average of 100 FPS, Medium hits 71 FPS with a min of 60 and max of 81, and High achieves 62 FPS. The Ultra preset drops to 46 FPS, mirroring the 4K Medium performance. The Medium preset's min of 60 FPS is noteworthy, as it means even the lowest frames stay right at the playability threshold, making it a safer choice than High, which has no min/max data but likely dips lower.

At 1920x1080, the system performs admirably across the board. Low settings average 136 FPS, Medium averages 96 FPS with a min of 82 and max of 111, High averages 84 FPS, and Ultra averages 63 FPS. The Medium preset's minimum of 82 FPS is particularly strong, showing that the system can maintain high frame rates even in demanding scenes. The Ultra preset, while only averaging 63 FPS, is still above the 60 FPS threshold, making it a viable option for players who prioritize visual quality over raw speed.

The Verdict

The verdict is clear: this PC can run Lockdown Protocol, but the experience is heavily dependent on resolution. At 3840x2160, the system is only playable on Low settings, with an average of 64 FPS. This is a functional but visually compromised experience. The data shows that the Medium, High, and Ultra presets all fail to reach 60 FPS, so 4K gaming is only recommended for players who prioritize frame rate over graphics.

At 2560x1440, the system is comfortably playable on High settings with an average of 62 FPS. This is the sweet spot for this hardware, offering a good balance of visual quality and performance. The Medium preset is also viable at 71 FPS, providing a more stable frame rate with a minimum of 60 FPS. The Ultra preset, at 46 FPS, is not recommended.

At 1920x1080, the system is fully capable of running the game at Ultra settings with an average of 63 FPS. This is the only resolution where the maximum visual preset clears the 60 FPS threshold. For players with 1080p displays, this hardware combination delivers the complete experience without compromise. The overall combo rank of 2987 out of 3714 tested combinations places this system in the lower-middle tier, but for this specific game, the performance is more than adequate at mainstream resolutions.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the Intel Core i5-12600KF, the nearest rivals offer similar CPU-bound performance. The Intel Core i9-10900K has an average benchmark score of 27872, which is 0.3% lower than the i5-12600KF's 27799. This means the i9-10900K would deliver nearly identical frame rates in Lockdown Protocol, assuming the GPU is not the bottleneck. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D scores 27896, just 0.3% higher, and would behave similarly in most scenarios. The AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE and Ryzen 7 6800U also fall within 0.3% of the i5-12600KF, but these are lower-power parts that may not sustain performance as consistently.

For the Intel Arc B570, the closest GPU rival is the Intel Arc A750, which has an average score of 20582, just 0.1% lower. This means the Arc A750 would produce nearly identical FPS in Lockdown Protocol, making it a direct alternative. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile scores 20534, 0.1% higher, and would offer comparable performance, though its mobile design may have different thermal characteristics. The AMD Radeon R9 M390X and NVIDIA Quadro M4000M are also within 0.5% of the Arc B570, but these are older, less efficient parts that may not support all modern features.

FAQ

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

A: Yes, but only on Low settings. The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 with Low settings is 64 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS threshold. Medium, High, and Ultra presets all fall below 60 FPS, with averages of 46, 40, and 30 FPS respectively.

Q: What is the best setting for 1440p gaming?

A: The High preset is the most demanding option that stays at or above 60 FPS, achieving an average of 62 FPS. The Medium preset is also playable at 71 FPS, but High offers better visual quality without dropping below the threshold.

Q: Does the Ultra preset work at 1080p?

A: Yes, the Ultra preset at 1920x1080 maintains an average of 63 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playability threshold. This is the only resolution where Ultra settings are playable.

Q: Which component is the bottleneck at higher resolutions?

A: The GPU is the primary bottleneck at 3840x2160 and 2560x1440. The frame rate drops significantly as settings increase, from 64 FPS on Low to 30 FPS on Ultra at 4K, indicating the Intel Arc B570 is limiting performance. The CPU becomes more relevant at 1080p where the gap between presets is smaller.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B570 compare to the Arc A750?

A: The Arc A750 has an average benchmark score of 20582, which is 0.1% lower than the Arc B570's 20556. This means the Arc A750 would produce nearly identical frame rates in Lockdown Protocol, making it a direct performance equivalent.

Q: What are the minimum frame rates like at playable settings?

A: At 2560x1440 on Medium settings, the minimum FPS is 60, matching the playability threshold. At 1920x1080 on Medium, the minimum is 82 FPS. The data does not provide min/max values for all settings, but the available numbers show stable performance at these presets.