Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core i7-12700K paired with the Intel Arc B390 delivers a highly uneven experience in Lockdown Protocol, one that depends almost entirely on resolution and quality preset. The recorded data shows a system that can hold 60 FPS at 1080p and 1440p only on lower settings, while 4K remains out of reach at every tested preset. The combination ranks near the bottom of the database, and the GPU is the clear limiting factor.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the Arc B390 struggles to produce playable frame rates. The Low preset averages 42 FPS, which is the best result at this resolution. Dropping to Medium yields an average of 30 FPS, with a recorded minimum of 25 and maximum of 34. The High preset falls to 26 FPS average, and Ultra manages only 19 FPS. At 4K, no setting reaches the 60 FPS playable threshold, and even the most forgiving preset sits 18 FPS short of that mark.

Moving to 2560x1440 improves things noticeably. The Low preset averages 65 FPS, clearing the 60 FPS threshold by a slim margin. The Medium preset averages 46 FPS, with a minimum of 39 and maximum of 53. High drops to 40 FPS average, and Ultra falls to 30 FPS. The gap between Low and Medium at 1440p is 19 FPS, which suggests a steep scaling cost as settings rise. The minimum recorded at Medium, 39 FPS, indicates that even the playable Low preset may experience dips below the average during intense scenes, though no minimum data was recorded for Low.

At 1920x1080, the system finally shows broader usability. The Low preset averages 88 FPS, comfortably above 60. The Medium preset averages 63 FPS, with a minimum of 53 and maximum of 72, meaning it clears 60 on average but can dip below it. High averages 55 FPS, just under the threshold, and Ultra averages 41 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra at 1080p is steep: each step costs roughly 20 to 25 FPS on average. The Medium preset at 1080p is the highest setting that maintains a 60 FPS average, though the 53 FPS minimum shows it is not locked to that level.

Across all resolutions, the pattern is consistent: Low is the only preset that guarantees a 60 FPS average at both 1080p and 1440p, and no preset achieves that at 4K. The data shows no minimum or maximum values for most presets, meaning the recorded averages are the primary reference points. The Medium presets at 1080p and 1440p do include min/max data, which provides a window into variance: at 1080p Medium, the range is 53 to 72 FPS, and at 1440p Medium, it is 39 to 53 FPS.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the Intel Core i7-12700K sits near a cluster of similar performers. The database lists the Intel Core i5-13600T with an average score 0.1 percent lower, the Intel Core i7-12700KF at 0.2 percent lower, the Intel Core i7-13700T at 0.3 percent lower, and the Intel Core 5 213PE at 0.4 percent lower. These differences are negligible in real-world terms, meaning any of these processors would produce nearly identical CPU-bound behavior in Lockdown Protocol. The i7-12700K itself has an average benchmark score of 35287, placing it in the 84th percentile among all CPUs. Its multi-threaded performance is strong, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 19784 and a single-core score of 1850.5. The 3DMark scores show scaling from 1043 in single-thread to 9979 in max-threads, indicating solid thread utilization for a 12-core, 20-thread part.

For the GPU, the situation is far more constrained. The Intel Arc B390 has an average benchmark score of 1482, placing it in the 9th percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are all older, low-end NVIDIA parts: the GeForce GT 520MX scores 1.3 percent higher, the GeForce 800M scores 1.5 percent higher, the GeForce GT 625 OEM scores 2.5 percent higher, and the GeForce GT 710 scores 2.7 percent higher. These deltas are small, but they indicate that the Arc B390 is not merely slow; it is positioned at the very bottom of the GPU performance spectrum. Any of these rival GPUs would deliver frame rates within a few percent of the Arc B390 in Lockdown Protocol, meaning the gameplay experience would be nearly identical. The Arc B390's single benchmark entry, a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482, reinforces its low standing. In practical terms, a user with a GT 710 or GT 625 OEM would see similar FPS numbers, limited by the same GPU bottleneck.

The contrast between CPU and GPU alternatives is stark. The i7-12700K competes with modern mid-range and high-end processors, while the Arc B390 competes with decade-old entry-level cards. This mismatch explains the overall combo ranking and the FPS patterns observed.

How This Combo Ranks

The database places this combination at rank 3302 out of 3714 tested combos for Lockdown Protocol. That puts it in the bottom 11 percent of all systems tested. The rank reflects the GPU's severe limitation: a CPU that sits in the 84th percentile is dragged down by a GPU in the 9th percentile. The recorded FPS data supports this: at 1080p Low, the system hits 88 FPS, which is respectable, but at 1080p Ultra it drops to 41 FPS, a 53 percent reduction. At 4K, the best preset only reaches 42 FPS. A system with a top-tier CPU would normally sustain higher frame rates at lower resolutions, but the GPU cap prevents that.

The combo rank of 3302 out of 3714 means that 412 other combinations performed worse. Those would likely feature even weaker GPUs paired with similar CPUs. However, the vast majority of tested combos, over 3300 of them, outperformed this pairing. The data indicates that Lockdown Protocol is not particularly demanding on the CPU side; the i7-12700K provides ample headroom. The GPU is the sole bottleneck, and its low percentile ranking drags the entire system down.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Lockdown Protocol at 1080p?

A: Yes, but only on Low and Medium presets. The Low preset averages 88 FPS, and the Medium preset averages 63 FPS with a minimum of 53. High averages 55 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: What is the best playable setting at 1440p?

A: The Low preset is the only one that clears 60 FPS at 2560x1440, averaging 65 FPS. Medium averages 46 FPS, High averages 40 FPS, and Ultra averages 30 FPS.

Q: Does the game run at 4K with this hardware?

A: No. The best result at 3840x2160 is 42 FPS on Low. Medium averages 30 FPS, High averages 26 FPS, and Ultra averages 19 FPS. No preset reaches 60 FPS.

Q: How does the Arc B390 compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The Arc B390 scores 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. The GeForce GT 520MX scores 1.3 percent higher, the GeForce 800M scores 1.5 percent higher, the GeForce GT 625 OEM scores 2.5 percent higher, and the GeForce GT 710 scores 2.7 percent higher. All are within a few percent of each other.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important for this game at 1080p?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor. The i7-12700K ranks in the 84th percentile among CPUs, while the Arc B390 ranks in the 9th percentile among GPUs. The FPS drops sharply as resolution and settings increase, which points to GPU-bound performance.

Q: What frame rate can I expect on Medium at 1080p?

A: The average is 63 FPS, with a minimum of 53 and a maximum of 72. It clears 60 on average but can dip below during demanding scenes.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals a clear division of labor. At 1080p Low, the system produces 88 FPS, which is a strong result and suggests the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU adequately at lower settings. At 1080p Medium, the average drops to 63 FPS, a 28 percent reduction. At 1080p High, it drops to 55 FPS, and at Ultra, 41 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p is a 47 FPS drop, which is almost entirely due to GPU load increasing with each preset.

At 1440p, the same pattern holds but with lower absolute numbers. Low averages 65 FPS, Medium 46, High 40, and Ultra 30. The gap between Low and Medium is 19 FPS, and between Medium and High is 6 FPS, then High to Ultra is 10 FPS. This irregular scaling suggests that certain settings, possibly shadows, textures, or post-processing, have disproportionate GPU cost. The CPU's role remains constant: it is not the bottleneck at any resolution, as evidenced by the fact that lowering resolution from 1440p to 1080p at the same preset (Low) increases FPS from 65 to 88, a 35 percent improvement. That improvement comes from reduced GPU workload, not CPU changes.

At 4K, the GPU is completely overwhelmed. Low averages 42 FPS, and every other preset is below 30 FPS. The CPU's high percentile ranking does nothing to help because the GPU cannot keep up with pixel throughput. The recorded data shows no min or max values for most 4K presets, but the averages alone tell the story: the Arc B390 is not designed for 4K gaming in this title.

The comparison between resolutions at the same preset is revealing. At Low, going from 1080p to 1440p reduces FPS from 88 to 65, a 23 FPS drop. Going from 1440p to 4K reduces it from 65 to 42, another 23 FPS drop. This linear scaling indicates that resolution is a direct multiplier on GPU workload, and the CPU has no influence on these reductions. At Medium, the drops are 63 to 46 to 30, which is steeper in percentage terms, showing that higher settings amplify the GPU bottleneck further.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, no setting reaches the 60 FPS playable threshold. The best average is 42 FPS on Low, followed by 30 on Medium, 26 on High, and 19 on Ultra. The verdict list for 4K is empty, confirming that this resolution is unplayable by the database's standard.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset is the only playable option, averaging 65 FPS. It is also the best setting, as no higher preset clears 60 FPS. Medium averages 46, High 40, and Ultra 30. The playable settings list contains only Low.

At 1920x1080, both Low and Medium qualify as playable. Low averages 88 FPS, and Medium averages 63 FPS with a minimum of 53. The best playable setting is Medium, as it is the highest preset that maintains a 60 FPS average. High averages 55 FPS and Ultra 41 FPS, both below the threshold. The verdict confirms Medium as the best setting at 1080p.

The recommended approach is to use Low at 1440p and Medium at 1080p. For users who prioritize visual quality over frame rate, Medium at 1080p offers a reasonable compromise, though the 53 FPS minimum means occasional dips below 60. At 1440p, Low is the only choice for smooth gameplay, and it still delivers a 65 FPS average.

The Verdict

This system can run Lockdown Protocol, but only under specific conditions. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers 88 FPS and Medium delivers 63 FPS, both clearing the 60 FPS playable threshold. The best playable setting at 1080p is Medium, with an average of 63 FPS. At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 65 FPS, which is playable, but no higher preset reaches 60 FPS. The best setting at 1440p is Low. At 3840x2160, no preset reaches 60 FPS; the best average is 42 FPS on Low, which is not playable by the database's standard.

The CPU and GPU combination is heavily skewed: the i7-12700K is a high-performing processor in the 84th percentile, while the Arc B390 sits in the 9th percentile. The GPU is the definitive bottleneck at every resolution and preset. Users seeking 60 FPS should stick to 1080p Medium or 1440p Low. Higher settings or 4K resolution are not viable with this hardware. The system ranks 3302 out of 3714 combos, confirming that most tested configurations outperform it in Lockdown Protocol. For a smooth experience, lower the resolution or reduce settings to Low; the data shows no other path to 60 FPS.