Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol, a 2024 FPS title, presents a demanding workload that scales significantly with resolution and settings. This analysis examines the measured performance of the AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT paired with the Intel Arc B570, using benchmark data to determine the role of each component and the optimal configuration for playable frame rates.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for this combination reveals a steep performance curve as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the system achieves an average of 84 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same settings drops the average to 62 FPS, a 26% reduction. At 3840x2160, the average falls further to 40 FPS, representing a 52% decrease from the 1080p baseline. This pattern indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions, as the pixel throughput demands scale directly with resolution.

The scaling from 1440p to 4K at High settings shows a 22 FPS drop (from 62 to 40), which is a 35% reduction. This is a substantial decline that points to the Intel Arc B570's memory bandwidth and raw compute being strained by the 3840x2160 pixel count. The GPU's 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus with 380.0 GB/s bandwidth is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K, the data transfer requirements likely exceed what this configuration can efficiently deliver, resulting in the sub-60 FPS average.

Interestingly, the scaling from Low to Ultra settings at each resolution shows a consistent pattern. At 1080p, the spread from Low (136 FPS) to Ultra (63 FPS) is 73 FPS, while at 1440p, the spread is 54 FPS (100 to 46), and at 4K, it is 34 FPS (64 to 30). This narrowing spread at higher resolutions suggests that as pixel count increases, the GPU becomes so saturated that the difference between settings has a relatively smaller impact on absolute frame rates. The CPU, with its 8 cores and 16 threads, appears to be keeping up with the game's logic at all resolutions, as the bottleneck clearly shifts to the GPU's pixel and shading capabilities.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT is a Zen 3 architecture processor with 8 cores and 16 threads, operating at a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. Its benchmark scores indicate strong multi-threaded performance, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 23794 and a single-core score of 3359. The processor's 32 MB of shared L3 cache and 64 KB per-core L1 cache contribute to its ability to handle game logic and draw calls without becoming a bottleneck in this title.

In Lockdown Protocol, the CPU's role appears to be secondary to the GPU at all tested resolutions. At 1080p Low, where the GPU load is lowest, the system reaches 136 FPS, which is the highest measured average. This suggests that even at this relatively light GPU load, the CPU is capable of feeding the graphics card with enough data to maintain high frame rates. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 7683 and max-thread score of 7680 indicate that the processor's multi-threading capabilities are well-utilized, but the game's performance scaling with resolution implies that it is not the limiting factor.

The CPU's nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score include the AMD Ryzen 7 7840H (deltaPct 0) and the AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS (deltaPct -0.3), showing that the 5800XT sits in a competitive position for its generation. Its 81st percentile ranking among all CPUs indicates solid overall performance, but the measured FPS data in this game shows that the CPU's contribution to frame rate is largely neutralized by the GPU's constraints at higher settings. The processor's 105 W TDP and support for DDR4 memory at 51.2 GB/s bandwidth are adequate for this workload, but they do not compensate for the GPU's limitations at 4K.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B570, based on the Xe2-HPG architecture (Battlemage generation), is the primary driver of performance in Lockdown Protocol. It features 2304 shading units, 144 TMUs, and 80 ROPs, with a boost clock of 2500 MHz. The GPU's 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus provides 380.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is a critical specification for high-resolution gaming. Its FP32 performance is rated at 11.52 TFLOPS, and it supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, which is relevant for a modern FPS title.

The GPU's benchmark scores show it is positioned in the 65th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 20556. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (deltaPct 0.1) and the Intel Arc A750 (deltaPct -0.1), indicating that it performs similarly to those cards in synthetic tests. However, in Lockdown Protocol, the measured FPS reveals that the GPU is the limiting factor at all resolutions above 1080p. The 4K Ultra average of 30 FPS is particularly telling, as it suggests that the GPU's 80 ROPs and memory bandwidth are insufficient to handle the combination of high pixel count and intensive shading effects.

The GPU's memory configuration is a notable point of analysis. At 1080p, the 10 GB VRAM is likely sufficient for all settings, allowing the GPU to focus on compute rather than memory swapping. However, at 4K Ultra, the combination of high-resolution textures and effects may approach the VRAM limit, causing performance to drop to an unplayable 30 FPS average. The 160-bit bus width, compared to wider buses in some competitors, restricts the effective bandwidth, which is a likely cause of the steep performance drop at 4K. The GPU's 150 W TDP and 450 W suggested PSU indicate it is a mid-range card, and the data confirms that it is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming in this title.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed view of performance across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the system achieves an average of 136 FPS on Low, 96 FPS on Medium (with a minimum of 82 and maximum of 111), 84 FPS on High, and 63 FPS on Ultra. This shows that even at the highest setting, the system maintains a playable frame rate above 60 FPS, making 1080p the most viable resolution for full visual fidelity.

At 2560x1440, the averages are 100 FPS on Low, 71 FPS on Medium (with a minimum of 60 and maximum of 81), 62 FPS on High, and 46 FPS on Ultra. The drop from High to Ultra at 1440p is 16 FPS, which is a significant penalty for the extra visual effects. The Medium setting offers a balanced experience with a 60 FPS minimum, ensuring smooth gameplay in most scenarios.

At 3840x2160, the averages are 64 FPS on Low, 46 FPS on Medium (with a minimum of 39 and maximum of 52), 40 FPS on High, and 30 FPS on Ultra. The 4K Low setting is the only configuration that exceeds 60 FPS, while 4K High and Ultra fall below the 40 FPS mark, which is likely to feel stuttery in a fast-paced FPS. The minimum FPS of 39 at 4K Medium indicates that even this setting can dip below 40 FPS during intense scenes.

The data shows a clear hierarchy: 1080p is fully playable at all settings, 1440p is playable up to High settings, and 4K requires Low settings for a smooth experience. The lack of min/max FPS data for most rows suggests that the benchmark was run with average FPS as the primary metric, but the available minimums provide insight into frame pacing stability.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT and Intel Arc B570 ranks 2264 out of 2828 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol, placing it in the bottom 20% of all systems tested. This ranking reflects the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions, as the CPU's strong multi-threaded performance is not enough to overcome the graphics card's constraints in this demanding title.

The combo rank is notably low compared to the individual component rankings. The CPU's 81st percentile ranking among all CPUs and the GPU's 65th percentile ranking among all GPUs suggest that each component is above average in isolation. However, the game's performance is heavily GPU-bound, so the combo's rank is dragged down by the Arc B570's inability to maintain high frame rates at 4K. The fact that the combo ranks below the 80th percentile of all tested systems indicates that many other CPU/GPU pairings achieve better results in this game.

The rank also suggests that the 5800XT is not the limiting factor, as a more powerful GPU would likely improve the combo's position. The CPU's benchmark scores, which are competitive with its nearest rivals, do not translate into a high in-game rank because the GPU's performance ceiling is the primary determinant. For users considering this combo, the data implies that it is better suited for 1080p or 1440p gaming, where the GPU can deliver higher frame rates, rather than 4K.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to maintain 60 FPS in Lockdown Protocol?

A: Based on the measured data, 1920x1080 is the only resolution where all settings achieve an average FPS above 60. At 2560x1440, only Low and Medium settings meet the 60 FPS threshold, while at 3840x2160, only Low settings reach above 60 FPS.

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

A: The Arc B570 has an average benchmark score of 20556, which is 0.1% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile and 0.1% lower than the Intel Arc A750. Its performance is closely matched with these cards, with a delta of less than 1% in all cases.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this configuration?

A: The measured FPS scaling indicates that the GPU is the bottleneck at all resolutions above 1080p. The CPU's strong multi-threaded performance (Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 23794) is sufficient to keep up with the game, but the GPU's pixel throughput limits frame rates at higher resolutions.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, Low settings achieve an average of 100 FPS, while Ultra settings achieve 46 FPS. This represents a 54 FPS difference, indicating that Ultra settings impose a significant performance penalty.

Q: Does the 10 GB VRAM on the Arc B570 cause issues at 4K?

A: The data shows that at 3840x2160, the average FPS drops to 30 on Ultra settings. While VRAM capacity is a factor, the GPU's 160-bit bus and 380.0 GB/s bandwidth are more likely the limiting factors, as the performance drops dramatically with increased resolution regardless of settings.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to all tested systems?

A: This combo ranks 2264 out of 2828 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom 20% of all systems. This low ranking is primarily due to the GPU's performance ceiling at higher resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution. For 1920x1080, Ultra settings provide an average of 63 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. This is the recommended configuration for users who prioritize visual quality, as the system can handle the highest settings without dropping below playable frame rates.

For 2560x1440, High settings offer a balanced experience with an average of 62 FPS. This setting provides a significant visual improvement over Medium (71 FPS) while maintaining a playable frame rate. Ultra settings at 1440p drop to 46 FPS, which may be acceptable for some users but is below the 60 FPS target for competitive play. Medium settings, with a minimum FPS of 60, are the safest choice for consistent performance, but High is recommended for better visuals without a major FPS penalty.

For 3840x2160, Low settings are the only option that delivers an average above 60 FPS (64 FPS). Medium settings provide an average of 46 FPS with a minimum of 39 FPS, which may be playable in less demanding scenes but is likely to stutter in fast-paced combat. High and Ultra settings at 4K are not recommended, as they average 40 FPS and 30 FPS, respectively, which are below the threshold for smooth gameplay. Users who insist on 4K should use Low settings and accept the visual compromises, or consider lowering the resolution to 1440p for a better experience.