Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol is a fast-paced FPS where frame pacing and responsiveness directly affect aim and movement. The database places the Intel Core i5-9400 and Intel Arc B570 combination at rank 2987 out of 3714 tested combos for this specific title. That places this pairing in the lower 20 percent of all tested systems, which might sound alarming at first, but the recorded measurements tell a more nuanced story. The combo rank reflects a wide field of hardware, including far more powerful CPUs and GPUs, and the actual FPS data shows this system can still clear the 60 FPS threshold at several settings and resolutions.

The Intel Core i5-9400 is a 6-core, 6-thread processor from the Coffee Lake Refresh generation, running at a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. Its benchmark scores place it at the 47th percentile among all CPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 2254. The Intel Arc B570, based on the Xe2-HPG architecture (Battlemage generation), sits at the 65th percentile among all GPUs with an average benchmark score of 20556. The pairing of a mid-tier CPU with a slightly above-mid-tier GPU creates an interesting balance, but the data suggests the GPU is doing more heavy lifting in Lockdown Protocol.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination rank of 2987 out of 3714 means that roughly 80 percent of tested combos outperform this setup in Lockdown Protocol. That is a sobering statistic, but it needs context. The database includes many combinations with top-tier CPUs and GPUs, so a mid-range pairing will naturally rank lower. What matters more is whether the system meets the playable threshold of 60 FPS, and the measurements show it does at multiple configurations.

At 1920x1080, the system delivers 136 FPS on Low settings, 96 FPS on Medium, 84 FPS on High, and 63 FPS on Ultra. Every preset at 1080p clears the 60 FPS bar. At 2560x1440, the results are 100 FPS on Low, 71 FPS on Medium, and 62 FPS on High, with Ultra dropping to 46 FPS. So three out of four presets remain playable at 1440p. At 3840x2160, only Low settings hit 64 FPS; Medium falls to 46 FPS, High to 40 FPS, and Ultra to 30 FPS. The rank of 2987 reflects the fact that this system cannot handle 4K at high quality, but it also shows that for mainstream 1080p and 1440p gaming, the combo is entirely viable.

The percentile data reinforces this split. The CPU's 47th percentile ranking is modest, but the GPU's 65th percentile is more respectable. In Lockdown Protocol, which appears to be GPU-bound at higher resolutions, the stronger GPU component helps the combo punch above its combined rank in practical terms.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the Intel Core i5-9400 provide a useful reference point. The Intel Core i7-1068NG7 has an average score of 2259, which is 0.2 percent higher than the i5-9400's 2254. The Intel Core i7-10710U scores 2248, which is 0.3 percent lower. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 scores 2246, also 0.3 percent lower, and the Intel Core i3-10305 scores 2264, which is 0.4 percent higher. These deltas are tiny, all within a single percentage point. In practical terms, swapping the i5-9400 for any of these CPUs would produce nearly identical frame rates in Lockdown Protocol, assuming the GPU stays the same. The CPU bottleneck, if any, would remain unchanged.

For the Intel Arc B570, the nearest rivals are equally close. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile scores 20534, which is 0.1 percent higher than the B570's 20556. The Intel Arc A750 scores 20582, which is 0.1 percent lower. The NVIDIA Quadro M4000M scores 20480, which is 0.4 percent lower, and the AMD Radeon R9 M390X scores 20662, which is 0.5 percent higher. Again, all deltas are under 1 percent. A system with the i5-9400 and any of these GPUs would perform almost identically in Lockdown Protocol. The Arc A750 is particularly notable because it is the same vendor and architecture family, suggesting that the B570's performance is well within the expected range for this class of GPU.

What this means for gamers is that the i5-9400 and Arc B570 combination sits in a well-populated performance tier. If someone already owns a system with a similar CPU or GPU, upgrading one component alone would not yield dramatic gains in this game. The measured FPS differences between these rivals are too small to notice without a frame counter.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals a clear shift in workload balance as resolution changes. At 1920x1080, the system achieves 136 FPS on Low settings, which suggests the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU enough frames to reach high refresh rates. The jump from Low to Medium at 1080p drops the average from 136 to 96 FPS, a 40 FPS reduction. Going from Medium to High drops it further to 84 FPS, and from High to Ultra to 63 FPS. This scaling indicates that at 1080p, the GPU is the primary limiter once settings increase, because the CPU has enough headroom to maintain high frame rates at Low settings.

At 2560x1440, the pattern shifts. Low settings produce 100 FPS, Medium 71 FPS, High 62 FPS, and Ultra 46 FPS. The drop from Low to Medium is 29 FPS, and from Medium to High is 9 FPS. The smaller gap between Medium and High suggests that the GPU is becoming more saturated, and the CPU is starting to matter less. At 3840x2160, the trend accelerates: Low yields 64 FPS, Medium 46 FPS, High 40 FPS, and Ultra 30 FPS. At 4K, the GPU is clearly the dominant factor. The CPU's role is mostly to maintain a baseline level of performance, and the i5-9400 does that adequately at lower resolutions but becomes less relevant as pixel count rises.

The CPU's single-core and multi-core scores also provide context. The i5-9400 scores 935 in Cinebench R23 single-core and 6629 in multi-core. Lockdown Protocol, being a competitive FPS, likely benefits from strong single-thread performance for game logic and input handling. The 935 single-core score is modest by modern standards, but it is sufficient to keep the GPU fed at 1080p. At 1440p and 4K, the GPU's fill rate and shading capacity take over, and the CPU's limitations become less visible in the FPS data.

The Verdict

Can this PC run Lockdown Protocol? The answer depends entirely on the target resolution and quality settings. The database's verdict by resolution is clear and unambiguous.

At 1920x1080, the system can run the game at every preset, including Ultra, with an average of 63 FPS. That clears the 60 FPS threshold by a small margin, but it is playable. At 2560x1440, High settings deliver 62 FPS, which also clears the bar, and Medium and Low are even faster at 71 and 100 FPS respectively. Ultra at 1440p falls short at 46 FPS, so it is not recommended. At 3840x2160, only Low settings achieve 64 FPS, which is playable, but Medium at 46 FPS and High at 40 FPS are not. Ultra at 30 FPS is essentially unplayable for a fast-paced FPS.

The practical verdict is that this system is a solid 1080p performer and a capable 1440p machine for all but the highest preset. 4K gaming is possible only at Low settings, and even then, the 64 FPS average leaves little headroom for demanding scenes. For most players targeting 1080p or 1440p with competitive settings, this combo delivers a smooth experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides exact numbers for every resolution and settings combination tested. The database records average FPS for all configurations, and for Medium settings at each resolution, it also includes minimum and maximum FPS values.

At 1920x1080, the system produces 136 FPS on Low, 96 FPS on Medium (minimum 82, maximum 111), 84 FPS on High, and 63 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset's minimum of 82 FPS is well above the 60 FPS threshold, indicating that even in demanding scenes, the frame rate does not dip below playable levels. The Ultra preset's 63 FPS average suggests that occasional dips below 60 are possible, but the average remains acceptable.

At 2560x1440, the results are 100 FPS on Low, 71 FPS on Medium (minimum 60, maximum 81), 62 FPS on High, and 46 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset's minimum of exactly 60 FPS is noteworthy: it touches the playable threshold but does not go below it. High settings at 62 FPS average are playable, but the margin is thin. Ultra at 46 FPS is clearly not smooth enough for a competitive FPS.

At 3840x2160, the data shows 64 FPS on Low, 46 FPS on Medium (minimum 39, maximum 52), 40 FPS on High, and 30 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset's minimum of 39 FPS highlights the severe frame dips at 4K, making even Medium settings feel stuttery. Low settings at 64 FPS are the only viable option at this resolution, and the lack of min/max data for Low suggests the average is stable enough to trust.

Best Settings per Resolution

The database identifies the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS for each resolution. These are the settings to use if a smooth experience is the priority.

At 1920x1080, the best settings are Ultra, with an average of 63 FPS. This is the highest quality preset that still clears the 60 FPS threshold. Players who want maximum visual fidelity at 1080p can use Ultra without sacrificing playability.

At 2560x1440, the best settings are High, with an average of 62 FPS. This offers a good balance between visual quality and performance. Medium settings at 71 FPS would provide more headroom, but High is the most demanding preset that remains playable.

At 3840x2160, the best settings are Low, with an average of 64 FPS. This is the only preset at 4K that clears 60 FPS. The visual compromise is significant, but the frame rate is smooth enough for gameplay.

These recommendations align with the broader trend: the system can handle high quality at 1080p, medium-high quality at 1440p, and only low quality at 4K.

FAQ

Q: Can the Intel Core i5-9400 and Intel Arc B570 run Lockdown Protocol at 60 FPS?

A: Yes, at 1920x1080, the system runs all presets above 60 FPS, with Ultra averaging 63 FPS. At 2560x1440, High settings average 62 FPS, and at 3840x2160, only Low settings achieve 64 FPS.

Q: What is the best quality setting at 1440p for this combo?

A: High settings are the most demanding preset that stays above 60 FPS, averaging 62 FPS. Medium settings average 71 FPS for more headroom, but High is the maximum playable quality.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B570 compare to its nearest rivals in the database?

A: The Arc B570 scores 20556 on average. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile scores 20534, which is 0.1 percent higher. The Intel Arc A750 scores 20582, which is 0.1 percent lower. The NVIDIA Quadro M4000M scores 20480 (0.4 percent lower), and the AMD Radeon R9 M390X scores 20662 (0.5 percent higher). All are within a half percentage point.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important for Lockdown Protocol at 4K?

A: The data shows the GPU becomes the dominant factor at 3840x2160. The FPS drops from 64 on Low to 46 on Medium and 30 on Ultra, indicating that the GPU's rendering capacity is the main constraint. The CPU's role diminishes as resolution increases.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The lowest recorded minimum is 39 FPS, which occurs at 3840x2160 with Medium settings. At 2560x1440 Medium, the minimum is 60 FPS, and at 1920x1080 Medium, the minimum is 82 FPS.

Q: How does the Intel Core i5-9400 rank among all CPUs?

A: The i5-9400 is at the 47th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 2254. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-1068NG7, scores 2259, a difference of only 0.2 percent.