Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol is a fast-paced FPS that stresses both the CPU and GPU depending on the resolution you choose. Based on the measured data for the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D and Intel Arc B580 combo, the experience is heavily dependent on your target display resolution and quality preset. The data reveals a system that is capable of high refresh rate gaming at 1080p but becomes firmly GPU-limited as you push toward 4K. This analysis breaks down the measured frame rates to help you understand where the bottleneck lies and how to configure the game for the best experience.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and dramatic drop as resolution increases, which is a classic sign of a GPU-bound workload at higher pixel counts. At 1080p with High settings, the combo delivers an average of 95 FPS. Moving to 1440p drops that to 70 FPS, a 26% reduction. Pushing further to 4K (3840x2160) results in just 45 FPS, which is a 53% drop from the 1080p High result. This scaling pattern is steep and indicates that the Intel Arc B580 is the primary limiting factor when resolution increases, as the CPU has ample headroom to feed frames at lower resolutions.

The difference between Low and Ultra presets at each resolution further highlights the GPU’s role. At 1080p, the gap between Low (154 FPS) and Ultra (72 FPS) is a massive 82 FPS, or 114% performance difference. At 1440p, the gap narrows to 61 FPS (113 vs 52), and at 4K, it narrows further to 39 FPS (73 vs 34). This trend is typical of a GPU that is being increasingly saturated by both resolution and graphical complexity. The CPU has enough power to handle even the lowest settings at high frame rates, but the GPU simply cannot keep up with the rendering demands of higher resolutions and quality settings.

The data suggests that the sweet spot for this pairing is 1440p, where the GPU can still produce playable frame rates on High settings (70 FPS) without being completely overwhelmed. At 1080p, the system is likely leaving performance on the table, as the CPU is capable of driving much higher frame rates than the GPU can render at higher resolutions. The 4K results show that this combo is not suited for 4K gaming at high refresh rates, as even the Low preset only manages 73 FPS, which is below the 90+ FPS many players prefer for competitive FPS titles.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B580 is the definitive bottleneck in this configuration at higher resolutions. Its 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus provides 456.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming but becomes a limiting factor at 4K. The GPU’s boost clock is fixed at 2670 MHz, and its 2560 shading units deliver a raw FP32 throughput of 13.67 TFLOPS. These specifications place it in the mid-range segment, which is reflected in its benchmark scores.

The GPU's average benchmark score of 23021 puts it in the 68th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks include the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP (deltaPct of -0.2%), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (deltaPct of 0.6%), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (deltaPct of -0.7%). This indicates that while the Arc B580 is competitive with older high-end cards in raw compute, its performance in Lockdown Protocol is constrained by its memory subsystem and overall bandwidth. The data shows that at 1080p, it can push 154 FPS on Low settings, but this drops to 72 FPS on Ultra, showing that the GPU’s fill rate and shading power are insufficient for maxed-out settings at high resolutions.

The DirectX 12 performance score of 76 in PassMark is notably low, suggesting that the GPU may not be fully optimized for all modern API workloads. However, the measured FPS in Lockdown Protocol, which is likely a DirectX 12 title, shows playable results. The 80 ROPs and 160 TMUs are adequate for 1080p, but the 4K results (45 FPS on High) suggest that the pixel throughput is a significant constraint. For the best experience, players should treat this as a 1080p or 1440p GPU, not a 4K solution.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D is a high-end desktop processor that provides more than enough performance for this game. With 12 cores and 24 threads based on the Zen 5 architecture, it has a base clock of 4.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. Its 128 MB of L3 cache is a major asset for gaming, as it reduces memory latency and improves frame pacing. The CPU’s benchmark scores are excellent, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 47737 and a single-core score of 6739.

In the context of Lockdown Protocol, the CPU is not the limiting factor at any resolution. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 154 FPS, which is likely near the CPU’s maximum frame generation capability for this title. Even at 4K Ultra, where the GPU is struggling to produce 34 FPS, the CPU is still capable of feeding it the necessary data. The CPU’s 91st percentile ranking among all CPUs confirms its high-end status, and its nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF (deltaPct of -0.6%) and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K (deltaPct of 1.3%).

The data indicates that the CPU has significant headroom. When comparing the 1080p Low result (154 FPS) to the 4K Low result (73 FPS), the drop is entirely due to the GPU’s rendering load. The CPU’s single-thread performance, as measured by a 3DMark single-thread score of 1269, is strong enough to handle the game’s simulation and physics threads without bottlenecking. This is a pairing where the CPU will last for years, while the GPU will likely be the first upgrade target for higher-resolution gaming.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured rows, the best experience for this combo balances visual quality with frame rate. At 1080p, the High preset (95 FPS) is the recommended starting point, as it provides a 23 FPS advantage over Ultra (72 FPS) with only a minor visual fidelity loss. For players with high refresh rate monitors (144Hz+), the Medium preset at 109 FPS offers an even smoother experience, though it requires accepting lower texture and shadow quality.

At 1440p, the High preset (70 FPS) is the optimal choice for a balance of visuals and playability. The Medium preset (80 FPS) is also viable if you prioritize frame rate, but the drop to Ultra (52 FPS) is not recommended for a competitive FPS, as it falls below the 60 FPS threshold. The Low preset (113 FPS) is available for maximum performance, but the visual compromises are significant.

At 4K, the data shows that this combo is not ideal for high-quality gaming. The Low preset (73 FPS) is the only playable option for a smooth experience, but it comes with substantial visual downgrades. The High preset (45 FPS) and Ultra preset (34 FPS) are both below the 60 FPS playability threshold and should be avoided for serious play. If you must game at 4K, sticking to Low settings is the only way to maintain a reasonable frame rate, but this is a last resort.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D and Intel Arc B580 combination ranks 2795 out of 3714 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol. This puts it in the 25th percentile of all combinations, which is lower than expected given the high-end CPU. This ranking is almost entirely due to the GPU’s mid-range performance, as the CPU is a top-tier part. The combo’s rank suggests that while the CPU provides an excellent platform, the GPU drags down the overall gaming experience, especially at higher resolutions.

This ranking is a direct result of the GPU’s average benchmark score of 23021, which places it in the 68th percentile of all GPUs. When paired with a CPU that is in the 91st percentile, the combination creates an imbalance. The data shows that the GPU is the bottleneck in nearly all gaming scenarios, which means the CPU’s potential is not fully utilized. For a more balanced system, a higher-end GPU would be needed to match the CPU’s capabilities. The ranking indicates that this is a build where the GPU should be upgraded first to improve overall gaming performance.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Lockdown Protocol at 4K with playable frame rates?

A: The data shows that at 4K, only the Low preset achieves a playable average of 73 FPS. The High (45 FPS), Medium (52 FPS), and Ultra (34 FPS) presets all fall below the 60 FPS threshold, making them less suitable for smooth gameplay.

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU and GPU pairing?

A: The measured data indicates that 1440p is the sweet spot. At High settings, it delivers 70 FPS, which is a good balance of visual quality and performance. 1080p is also excellent, with High settings hitting 95 FPS, but the GPU is not the limiting factor there.

Q: Is the Intel Arc B580 the bottleneck in this system?

A: Yes, the data strongly suggests that the GPU is the limiting component. The frame rate drops significantly with increasing resolution (from 95 FPS at 1080p High to 45 FPS at 4K High), while the CPU’s high benchmark scores indicate it has ample headroom.

Q: How does this combo's performance rank compared to other tested systems?

A: This combo ranks 2795 out of 3714 tested combinations in Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the lower half of all systems, primarily due to the GPU’s mid-range performance, despite the CPU being a top-tier part.

Q: Should I use the Ultra preset for the best experience?

A: Based on the data, no. The Ultra preset only delivers 72 FPS at 1080p, 52 FPS at 1440p, and 34 FPS at 4K. The High preset offers a better balance, with 95 FPS at 1080p and 70 FPS at 1440p, while the visual difference between High and Ultra is often minor.

Q: What is the performance difference between the Low and High presets at 1080p?

A: The data shows that the Low preset achieves 154 FPS, while the High preset achieves 95 FPS. This is a 59 FPS difference, or a 62% performance advantage for Low, which may be worth it for competitive play on high refresh rate monitors.