Lockdown Protocol

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D paired with the Intel Arc B370 presents a stark illustration of component bottlenecking in Lockdown Protocol. The data shows a high-end, 12-core processor constrained by a low-power integrated graphics solution, resulting in performance that is firmly entry-level. This analysis breaks down the measured frame rates to understand the dynamic between the CPU, GPU, and game settings.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and predictable pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases, but the rate of that degradation is the key indicator of the system's limiting factor. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 80 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 Low drops that average to 58 FPS, a 27.5% reduction. Pushing further to 3840x2160 Low yields an average of 38 FPS, another 34.5% drop from the 1440p figure. This scaling indicates that the rendering workload is heavily taxing the GPU at every step.

The trend is consistent across all settings. At Medium settings, the average FPS goes from 57 at 1080p to 42 at 1440p (a 26.3% drop) and then to 27 at 4K (a 35.7% drop from 1440p). Similarly, at High settings, the average FPS falls from 49 at 1080p to 36 at 1440p (a 26.5% drop) and then to 23 at 4K (a 36.1% drop from 1440p). The consistent magnitude of these percentage drops across different quality presets is telling.

The fact that performance drops by roughly a quarter when moving from 1080p to 1440p, and then by over a third when moving from 1440p to 4K, points squarely at the GPU as the limiting component. The increase in pixel count directly translates to a proportional increase in the fragment shading and memory bandwidth workload, which is the primary domain of the graphics processor. A system that was CPU-limited would show a much smaller performance delta between resolutions, as the CPU workload would remain relatively constant while the GPU struggles to keep up. Here, the significant and escalating FPS losses with each resolution step confirm that the Intel Arc B370 is saturated long before the Ryzen 9 9900X3D's capabilities are fully utilized.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is the pivotal component in this configuration's gaming performance. Its benchmark data places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, with an average 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184. This is a very low standing, and its nearest rivals in the database are legacy parts like the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M, with score deltas of -0.2% and -0.7% respectively. This indicates that the B370's raw rendering power is on par with graphics solutions from over a decade ago.

The specifications support this narrative. The GPU operates with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz, and it has 1280 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 20 ROPs. Critically, its memory is "System Shared," meaning it has no dedicated VRAM and relies on the system's main memory. The memory bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent," which introduces a significant variable into performance. The system's 89.6 GB/s of dual-channel DDR5 memory bandwidth, as specified for the CPU, is the ceiling for the GPU's memory access. This shared bandwidth is a major bottleneck, as the GPU must compete with the CPU for the same memory resources.

The GPU's physical characteristics further define its role. It has a TDP of 25 W and is classified as an "IGP" (Integrated Graphics Processor) with a slot width of "IGP" and no power connectors. This is not a discrete graphics card; it is an integrated solution that is part of the "Arc Graphics-M (Panther Lake)" generation. The benchmark results directly reflect these limitations. The performance data shows a hard ceiling, with the highest average FPS recorded being 80 at 1080p Low. This score, combined with its 5th percentile ranking, establishes the Arc B370 as the definitive performance bottleneck in this pairing for Lockdown Protocol.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the benchmark database, this specific CPU and GPU combination ranks 2611th out of 2828 tested combos for Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the bottom 8% of all system configurations, a ranking that underscores the severe performance limitation imposed by the GPU. The CPU, on the other hand, is a top-tier performer. The Ryzen 9 9900X3D sits in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 54762. Its nearest rivals in the database are the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF (with a -0.6% delta), the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K (with a 1.3% delta), and the Intel Xeon 6505P (with a 2% delta). This shows that the processor's compute capability is competitive with other high-end desktop chips.

The stark contrast between the CPU's high percentile ranking and the combo's low overall ranking is a textbook example of a bottleneck. The data suggests that the system's overall performance in Lockdown Protocol is being dragged down almost entirely by the graphics solution. The combo's rank of 2611 out of 2828 indicates that even systems with much weaker CPUs but stronger GPUs would likely outperform this pairing in this game. The processor is effectively waiting on the GPU for the vast majority of the frame time, meaning its substantial multi-core and single-core capabilities are largely left on the table.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best average FPS this combo can achieve in Lockdown Protocol?*

A: The highest average FPS recorded in the data is 80, which occurs at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: How does the GPU's performance compare to its closest rivals?

A: The Intel Arc B370's average benchmark score is 1184. Its closest rival, the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, scores 1186, which is a -0.2% delta. The AMD Radeon HD 7650M scores 1192, a -0.7% delta, while the AMD FirePro M2000 scores 1168, a 1.4% delta.

Q: How much of a performance drop is seen when moving from 1080p to 4K on Medium settings?

A: At Medium settings, the average FPS drops from 57 at 1920x1080 to 27 at 3840x2160. This represents a 52.6% decrease in average frame rate.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this configuration?

A: The data strongly indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The combo ranks in the bottom 8% of tested configurations, while the CPU alone ranks in the 91st percentile. Furthermore, FPS drops significantly with each resolution increase, a classic sign of GPU saturation.

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

A: The only minimum FPS figures provided are for Medium settings. The lowest minimum FPS is 23, which was recorded at 3840x2160. The minimum FPS at 2560x1440 Medium is 35, and at 1920x1080 Medium it is 48.

Q: What are the CPU's closest rivals based on average benchmark score?

A: The closest rivals to the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D are the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF, with an average score of 55093 and a -0.6% delta, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K, which has an average score of 54053 and a 1.3% delta.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear guide for playable settings. The primary goal for a smooth experience in an FPS is to maintain a frame rate at or above 60 FPS. At 1920x1080, the only preset that achieves this is Low, with an average of 80 FPS. The Medium preset at this resolution drops to 57 FPS, which is below that 60 FPS threshold. Ultra and High settings at 1080p are significantly slower, with averages of 37 and 49 FPS, respectively.

At 2560x1440, the situation becomes more constrained. The Low preset delivers an average of 58 FPS, which is just shy of the 60 FPS target. This is the only viable option for a playable frame rate at this resolution. All other presets at 1440p fall well below 60 FPS, with Medium at 42 FPS, High at 36 FPS, and Ultra at 27 FPS. At 3840x2160, no settings preset provides a playable experience. The fastest option, Low, only manages an average of 38 FPS, and Ultra drops to 18 FPS.

Based on this data, the recommended configuration is 1920x1080 with Low settings, as it is the only measured combination that provides an average FPS comfortably above 60. For users who prioritize visual fidelity over frame rate, 1080p Medium (57 FPS) or 1440p Low (58 FPS) are the next best options, but they will require a tolerance for sub-60 FPS gameplay. The data does not support using High or Ultra presets at any resolution, as they all result in an average FPS below 50, which is likely to feel sluggish in a fast-paced FPS title.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D is a 12-core, 24-thread processor based on the Zen 5 architecture (Granite Ridge). It has a base clock of 4.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, with a substantial 128 MB of L3 cache. Its benchmark results are impressive, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 47737 and a single-core score of 6739. It also achieves a Geekbench multicore score of 22884 and a single-core score of 3041. These numbers place it in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, and its average benchmark score of 54762 is just 0.6% behind the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF. This demonstrates that the CPU is more than capable of handling the most demanding game logic and physics calculations.

However, the measured FPS in Lockdown Protocol shows that the CPU's power is not being fully expressed. The highest average FPS of 80 at 1080p Low is a modest result for such a processor. The fact that performance scales so heavily with resolution and settings changes points to the GPU being the primary constraint. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see similar FPS numbers at 1440p and 4K, as the CPU's workload would not change much. The data shows otherwise, with FPS dropping from 80 at 1080p Low to 58 at 1440p Low and then to 38 at 4K Low. This indicates that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with data at a rate much higher than the GPU can render, leaving the Ryzen 9 9900X3D in a state of underutilization. The processor's role in this pairing is to provide a foundation of high performance that is currently bottlenecked by the graphics subsystem.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data represents all measured FPS values for the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D and Intel Arc B370 combination in Lockdown Protocol.

1920x1080

• Low: Average FPS is 80. This is the highest average FPS recorded for any setting or resolution.
• Medium: Average FPS is 57, with a minimum of 48 and a maximum of 65.
• High: Average FPS is 49.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 37.

2560x1440

• Low: Average FPS is 58.
• Medium: Average FPS is 42, with a minimum of 35 and a maximum of 48.
• High: Average FPS is 36.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 27.

3840x2160

• Low: Average FPS is 38.
• Medium: Average FPS is 27, with a minimum of 23 and a maximum of 31.
• High: Average FPS is 23.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 18. This is the lowest average FPS recorded.

The data across all resolutions shows a consistent hierarchy: Low is always the fastest, followed by Medium, then High, with Ultra being the slowest. The spread between Low and Ultra at each resolution is substantial. At 1080p, the gap is 43 FPS (80 vs. 37). At 1440p, the gap narrows slightly to 31 FPS (58 vs. 27). At 4K, the gap tightens further to 20 FPS (38 vs. 18). This compression of the performance envelope at higher resolutions is a direct result of the GPU becoming the overwhelming bottleneck. As the pixel count increases, the cost of higher-quality settings becomes relatively less significant compared to the sheer cost of rasterization, which is why the FPS difference between presets shrinks.