Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol on the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G + Intel Arc B390 combo presents a study in contrasts. The data reveals a system where the integrated GPU is the clear protagonist, but the aging CPU architecture plays a significant supporting role in determining overall playability. This analysis interprets the measured FPS across resolutions and settings to understand where the bottlenecks lie and what the experience truly looks like for this hardware pairing.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and reveals a system heavily constrained by its graphics solution. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 88 FPS at 1920x1080 to 65 FPS at 2560x1440, a 26% reduction. Pushing further to 3840x2160, the average drops to 42 FPS, representing a 52% decrease from the 1080p baseline. This scaling pattern is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario, where the load on the graphics processor increases quadratically with pixel count, overwhelming the Arc B390's capabilities.

The trend is even more pronounced at higher graphical presets. At High settings, the transition from 1080p (55 FPS) to 1440p (40 FPS) is a 27% loss, and moving to 4K (26 FPS) results in a 53% drop from 1080p. This consistent ~50% performance penalty from 1080p to 4K across both Low and High settings strongly indicates that the Intel Arc B390's rendering pipeline, with its 1536 shading units and 24 ROPs, is the primary limiting factor. The data suggests that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU at 1080p, but the GPU simply cannot maintain that throughput as the pixel count climbs.

Interestingly, the gap between Low and High settings narrows at higher resolutions. At 1080p, Low is 60% faster than High (88 vs 55 FPS). At 4K, that advantage shrinks to 61% (42 vs 26 FPS). This compression of performance differences at 4K indicates that the GPU is saturated regardless of the preset, and the extra work required by High settings has a proportionally smaller impact on the already constrained frame rate. The system is so GPU-limited at 4K that even reducing the settings to Low cannot rescue playability.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 4600G, a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the Zen 2 architecture, provides the computational foundation. Its base clock of 3.70 GHz and boost clock of 4.20 GHz, combined with 8 MB of shared L3 cache, position it as a capable mid-range part from its era. The benchmark results show a single-thread score of 726 in 3dmark and 1919 in Cinebench R23, while multi-threaded performance reaches 4889 in 3dmark max threads and 13593 in Cinebench R23. These figures place the CPU in the 71st percentile of all processors, indicating it has reasonable, though not exceptional, headroom.

In the context of Lockdown Protocol, the CPU's role appears to be secondary at higher resolutions but potentially more relevant at 1080p. The data shows that at 1920x1080 Low, the combo achieves 88 FPS. This is a relatively high frame rate, but it falls short of what a more modern CPU might deliver alongside a discrete GPU. The 4600G's Passmark single-thread score of 2653 and multi-thread score of 15992 suggest that while it can handle the game's logic and physics, its Zen 2 architecture may not be able to push frame rates into the triple digits, even with a more powerful graphics card. The measured 88 FPS at 1080p Low might be close to the CPU's practical ceiling for this title.

The 4000 series processor's memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s is another factor. For an integrated GPU setup like this, the CPU's memory controller and system RAM bandwidth are shared between the processor and the graphics unit. This shared resource can become a bottleneck, especially at lower resolutions where the CPU is trying to deliver more frames per second. The data suggests that while the CPU is not the primary bottleneck at 4K, it could be limiting the system's ability to exceed the 88 FPS mark at 1080p Low, as the CPU must handle both game logic and the increased draw calls associated with higher frame rates.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is the star of the show, for better or worse. As an integrated GPU based on the Xe3-LPG architecture with a 3 nm process, it features 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs. Its boost clock of 2500 MHz and FP32 performance of 7.680 TFLOPS are substantial on paper for an IGP. However, its benchmark results tell a different story. The GPU scores a mere 1482 in 3dmark Steel Nomad DX12, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. This is a remarkably low score, and its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and GT 710, which are ancient discrete parts from over a decade ago.

This low benchmark score is reflected directly in the game's measured performance. The GPU's memory is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system's DDR4 RAM rather than dedicated VRAM. The "System Dependent" bandwidth further emphasizes that the GPU's performance is tied to the CPU's memory subsystem. This architecture is likely the core reason for the low FPS figures. The 24 ROPs are particularly limiting for a game like Lockdown Protocol, as they handle pixel output and are critical for higher resolutions. The pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s is insufficient to fill the 3840x2160 framebuffer at playable speeds, explaining the 26 FPS average at 4K High.

The GPU's performance scaling with settings is telling. At 1080p, the difference between Low (88 FPS) and Ultra (41 FPS) is over 2x, indicating that the GPU is working hard but can be pushed. However, at 4K, the range narrows to between 19 FPS (Ultra) and 42 FPS (Low). The Arc B390 simply does not have the raw throughput to handle 4K gaming, regardless of preset. Even at 1440p, the max average FPS is 65 on Low, which is playable but far from smooth. The data consistently points to the GPU being the primary limiter for this combo in Lockdown Protocol.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Ryzen 5 4600G and Arc B390 ranks 3302 out of 3714 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the bottom 11% of all systems tested for this game, a poor showing that aligns with the GPU's low percentile ranking. The combo's rank is more reflective of the GPU's performance than the CPU's, as the CPU sits in the 71st percentile while the GPU languishes in the 9th. This disparity suggests that the GPU is dragging the entire system down.

The CPU's nearest rivals in general benchmarks include the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE (0.1% faster) and the Intel Core 7 150U (0.6% faster), indicating the 4600G is competitive in its CPU class. However, the GPU's nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1.3% faster) and GeForce 800M (1.5% faster), which are entry-level mobile parts. This comparison is stark: the integrated Arc B390 is performing at the level of a decade-old discrete GPU, which explains the combo's low rank. The data implies that while the CPU is a reasonable pairing, the GPU severely limits the system's overall gaming capability in this title, making the combo rank among the lowest-performing configurations.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the combo's capabilities across 12 different scenarios. At 1080p, the system shows its best performance. On Low settings, it achieves 88 FPS, which is the highest average frame rate recorded. Medium settings yield 63 FPS (with a range of 53-72 FPS), High settings produce 55 FPS, and Ultra drops to 41 FPS. This shows that 1080p is the only resolution where the system can approach smooth, high-refresh gameplay, and only on the lowest settings.

Moving to 1440p, the performance becomes more marginal. Low settings still deliver a playable 65 FPS, but Medium drops to 46 FPS (39-53 FPS range), High falls to 40 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 30 FPS. The 30 FPS at Ultra is on the edge of playability, but the 46 FPS average on Medium suggests that 1440p is only viable for competitive play on Low settings. At 4K, the system is not viable for serious gaming. Low settings achieve 42 FPS, Medium drops to 30 FPS (25-34 FPS range), High falls to 26 FPS, and Ultra is a slideshow at 19 FPS. The data shows a clear gradient: 1080p Low is the only configuration that provides a consistently smooth experience, while 4K is only suitable for screenshots or very casual play.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combo for the highest average FPS?

A: The highest average FPS is 88 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: Can this system play Lockdown Protocol at 4K?

A: Yes, but only at 42 FPS on Low settings. Medium settings yield 30 FPS, High yields 26 FPS, and Ultra yields 19 FPS, none of which are ideal for smooth gameplay.

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

A: The Intel Arc B390 scores 1482 in 3dmark Steel Nomad, which is 1.3% slower than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and 1.5% slower than the GeForce 800M, both of which are older discrete parts.

Q: What is the CPU's single-thread performance relative to its multi-thread performance?

A: The CPU scores 726 in 3dmark single-thread and 4889 in 3dmark max threads. Its Cinebench R23 scores are 1919 for single-core and 13593 for multi-core.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck at 1080p Low settings?

A: The data suggests the GPU is still the primary limiter, as the system only achieves 88 FPS. However, the CPU's 71st percentile ranking and 2653 Passmark single-thread score indicate it may also be a factor in preventing higher frame rates.

Q: What is the FPS range for Medium settings at 1440p?

A: The average FPS is 46, with a minimum of 39 FPS and a maximum of 53 FPS.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal experience for this combo is at 1920x1080 with Low settings, yielding an average of 88 FPS. This is the only configuration that provides a consistently smooth, responsive frame rate suitable for a fast-paced FPS like Lockdown Protocol. While Medium settings at 1080p offer 63 FPS, the 25 FPS drop to High settings suggests that the visual fidelity gain is not worth the performance cost. For players prioritizing frame rate, 1080p Low is the clear choice.

For those willing to sacrifice smoothness for better visuals, 1440p Low (65 FPS) is a viable alternative, but 1080p Medium (63 FPS) offers similar performance with likely better image quality due to the higher pixel density. However, the data shows that any preset above Low at 1440p or any preset at 4K results in average frame rates below 50 FPS, which is generally considered suboptimal for competitive FPS gameplay. The Ultra preset at 1080p (41 FPS) is playable for single-player experiences but is not recommended for competitive modes. The conclusion from the data is that the system's sweet spot is 1080p Low, with 1080p Medium or 1440p Low as acceptable compromises for those who prefer higher fidelity over peak performance.