Lockdown Protocol

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D paired with the Intel Arc B390 ranks 2512 out of 2828 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol, placing it in the bottom 11% of all configurations. This is a case where an elite processor is almost entirely neutralized by a graphics solution that sits at the 9th percentile among all GPUs. The benchmark data indicates a severe bottleneck: the CPU is capable of delivering massive frame rates, but the GPU cannot keep pace, resulting in a combo that underachieves relative to its processor's potential. For builders, this pairing represents a stark learning example of component balancing, where the sum is far less than the parts suggest.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 2512 out of 2828 tested combinations places it firmly in the lower quartile of performance for Lockdown Protocol. This is not a subtle underperformance; it is a categorical failure to leverage the hardware's strengths. The data shows a massive disparity between the two components: the Ryzen 7 9800X3D sits at the 87th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 39768, while the Intel Arc B390 languishes at the 9th percentile among GPUs, with an average score of just 1482. The GPU's score is so low that its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1.3% faster), the NVIDIA GeForce 800M (1.5% faster), the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM (2.5% faster), and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 (2.7% faster). This places the Arc B390 in direct competition with integrated graphics from over a decade ago, which explains the poor overall ranking.

In context, the CPU's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS (0.4% slower), the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 (0.7% faster), the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 (0.7% slower), and the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 (0.8% faster). These deltas are minuscule, indicating that the 9800X3D is performing exactly as expected in synthetic tests. However, the combo rank is not determined by the CPU alone; it is the product of the system's real-world gaming performance. The measured FPS data confirms that the GPU is the limiting factor, and the ranking reflects that reality. The 9800X3D's high scores in Cinebench R23 (23230 multi-core, 2080 single-core) and Geekbench (18696 multi-core, 2964 single-core) are irrelevant when the GPU can only manage 26 FPS at 4K High settings. The ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU's inability to translate the CPU's compute power into playable frame rates.

FAQ

Q: What is the most playable setting for this combo at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average of 88 FPS, which is the only setting that approaches standard 60 FPS gaming. The Medium preset yields 63 FPS, High drops to 55 FPS, and Ultra falls to 41 FPS. For a responsive experience, Low is the only viable option, and Medium is borderline acceptable.

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

A: The Arc B390's average benchmark score is 1482. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, scores 1463, which is 1.3% slower. The NVIDIA GeForce 800M scores 1460 (1.5% slower), the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM scores 1446 (2.5% slower), and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 scores 1443 (2.7% slower). The Arc B390 is therefore the fastest in its immediate peer group, but that group consists of very old, low-end parts.

Q: Is the Ryzen 7 9800X3D a strong processor for this game?

A: The CPU itself is excellent, ranking in the 87th percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 39768. Its performance in Cinebench R23 (23230 multi-core) and Geekbench (18696 multi-core) is strong. However, in Lockdown Protocol, the GPU bottleneck means the CPU's power is largely unused; the measured FPS is limited by the GPU, not the CPU.

Q: What are the minimum FPS numbers for the Medium preset?

A: The Medium preset has recorded minimum FPS values across all resolutions. At 3840x2160, the minimum is 25 FPS. At 2560x1440, the minimum is 39 FPS. At 1920x1080, the minimum is 53 FPS. These minimums indicate occasional frame drops below the averages, which can be disruptive in a fast-paced FPS.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K resolution?

A: At 3840x2160, the performance is poor across all settings. The Low preset averages 42 FPS, Medium averages 30 FPS, High averages 26 FPS, and Ultra averages 19 FPS. None of these are consistently playable for a competitive FPS, with only Low being marginally tolerable for casual play.

Q: What is the GPU's memory configuration?

A: The Intel Arc B390 uses System Shared memory, meaning it has no dedicated VRAM. Its memory type, bus width, and bandwidth are all listed as "System Shared" or "System Dependent." This architecture relies on the system's main memory, which can impact performance, especially at higher resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides a clear hierarchy for settings, but the playability threshold is rarely met. At 1920x1080, the Low preset is the only setting that delivers a consistently high frame rate, averaging 88 FPS. This is the recommended setting for any semblance of competitive play. The Medium preset at 63 FPS is acceptable for single-player or less demanding scenarios, but the minimum FPS of 53 suggests potential dips during intense action. High and Ultra at 55 FPS and 41 FPS respectively are not recommended, as they sacrifice too much fluidity for visual gains that this GPU cannot properly render.

At 2560x1440, the situation worsens. Low averages 65 FPS, which is still playable, but Medium drops to 46 FPS with a minimum of 39 FPS. This makes Medium risky for fast-paced gameplay. High at 40 FPS and Ultra at 30 FPS are not viable for an FPS. At 3840x2160, no setting is truly playable. Low at 42 FPS is the best option, but even this will feel sluggish. Medium at 30 FPS, High at 26 FPS, and Ultra at 19 FPS are all below acceptable thresholds. The data suggests that users should stick to 1080p Low or Medium at most, and avoid 4K entirely unless they are willing to tolerate significant performance compromises.

The optimal experience, given the hardware constraints, is 1080p with the Low preset. This provides the highest average FPS (88) and avoids the frame dips seen in Medium. If visual fidelity is a priority, 1080p Medium is a compromise, but the 53 FPS minimum is a warning sign. The combo simply does not have the GPU headroom to support higher resolutions or settings in this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data spans three resolutions and four settings, providing a comprehensive view of the combo's performance envelope. At 1920x1080, the results are as follows: Low averages 88 FPS, Medium averages 63 FPS with a minimum of 53 FPS and a maximum of 72 FPS, High averages 55 FPS, and Ultra averages 41 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 47 FPS, a substantial margin that highlights the GPU's struggle with higher graphical loads. The Medium preset's min-max range (53-72) shows a 19 FPS variance, indicating inconsistent frame pacing.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops significantly. Low averages 65 FPS, Medium averages 46 FPS with a minimum of 39 FPS and a maximum of 53 FPS, High averages 40 FPS, and Ultra averages 30 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra narrows to 35 FPS, but the absolute values are lower. At this resolution, the GPU is clearly overburdened; even the Low preset's 65 FPS is a far cry from the 88 FPS seen at 1080p. The Medium preset's minimum of 39 FPS is particularly concerning, as it approaches the threshold where an FPS becomes unplayable.

At 3840x2160, the performance collapses. Low averages 42 FPS, Medium averages 30 FPS with a minimum of 25 FPS and a maximum of 34 FPS, High averages 26 FPS, and Ultra averages 19 FPS. The scaling is brutal: Ultra at 4K delivers less than a quarter of the frame rate of Low at 1080p (19 FPS vs 88 FPS). The Medium preset's min-max range (25-34) shows a narrow but low band, suggesting the GPU is hitting a hard limit. Across all resolutions, the pattern is consistent: the GPU is the sole bottleneck, and its performance degrades rapidly as resolution and settings increase.

Resolution Scaling

The resolution scaling behavior reveals a GPU that is severely underpowered for this game. Comparing 1080p Low to 4K Low, the average FPS drops from 88 to 42, a reduction of 52%. This is a massive hit for a resolution increase from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160, which quadruples the pixel count. In a balanced system, the frame rate would drop more steeply, but here the GPU is already at its limits at 1080p, so the scaling is less than linear but still catastrophic.

Looking at the Medium preset, the drop is from 63 FPS at 1080p to 46 FPS at 1440p to 30 FPS at 4K. The step from 1080p to 1440p is a 27% reduction, and from 1440p to 4K is a 35% reduction. This suggests that the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth (which is System Shared) are insufficient for higher resolutions. The High preset shows a similar pattern: 55 FPS at 1080p, 40 FPS at 1440p, and 26 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset is the worst, with 41 FPS at 1080p falling to 30 FPS at 1440p and 19 FPS at 4K.

The limiting component is unequivocally the GPU. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D, with its 8 cores and 16 threads running at a base clock of 4.70 GHz and boost of 5.20 GHz, is more than capable of handling the CPU-side workload. The 96 MB of shared L3 cache and Zen 5 architecture provide ample compute headroom. The data shows that the FPS drops are almost entirely attributable to the GPU's inability to render frames at higher resolutions. The Intel Arc B390's 1536 shading units and 24 ROPs are simply too few for modern FPS titles at 1440p or 4K, and its System Shared memory architecture compounds the issue by relying on system RAM bandwidth.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is a flagship desktop processor built on the Zen 5 architecture (Granite Ridge) using a 4 nm process from TSMC. It features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. Its cache hierarchy is substantial: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a massive 96 MB of shared L3 cache. This configuration is designed for gaming, where the large L3 cache helps reduce memory latency. The CPU's benchmark scores confirm its strength: Cinebench R23 multi-core scores 23230, single-core scores 2080, and Geekbench multi-core scores 18696.

However, in Lockdown Protocol, the CPU's role is diminished by the GPU bottleneck. The measured FPS does not scale with the CPU's capabilities; instead, it plateaus based on the GPU's limits. For example, at 1080p Low, the combo hits 88 FPS, but this is likely not the CPU's maximum. The CPU could potentially push well over 100 FPS in this scenario if paired with a faster GPU. The data from the CPU benchmarks, such as 3DMark 16-thread score of 10081 and max-thread score of 10067, indicate that the processor has significant headroom. The 9800X3D's nearest rivals in CPU benchmarks are all within 0.8% of its average score, showing it is performing at the top of its class.

The core and thread count (8C/16T) is more than sufficient for Lockdown Protocol, which is a modern FPS that can utilize multiple threads. The high boost clock of 5.20 GHz ensures strong single-threaded performance, which is often critical in game logic and physics. The 96 MB L3 cache is a unique advantage for gaming, as it can hold more game data on-die, reducing the need to access slower system memory. Yet, none of these advantages matter when the GPU is the limiting factor. The combo's rank of 2512 out of 2828 is a direct result of the GPU's 9th percentile standing, not a reflection of the CPU's abilities. The CPU is a top-tier part, but it is wasted in this pairing for Lockdown Protocol.