Lockdown Protocol

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D paired with the Intel Arc B370 produces a highly unusual combination in Lockdown Protocol, where an extremely powerful 16-core processor is held back by an integrated-class GPU. The benchmark results show a system that is fundamentally GPU-limited across all tested settings and resolutions, with the CPU's potential largely untapped. This analysis examines the measured FPS data, the specific roles of each component, and what the numbers mean for practical gameplay.

FAQ

Q: What is the best average FPS this combo achieved in Lockdown Protocol?

A: The highest average FPS recorded was 80, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This is the only tested configuration that breaks the 60 FPS threshold, making it the sole option for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested combinations?

A: It ranks 2611th out of 2828 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 8% of all configurations. This low ranking is directly attributable to the Intel Arc B370's performance tier, not the CPU.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, Low settings produce 80 FPS, while Ultra settings produce 37 FPS. This represents a 43 FPS drop, or roughly 54% lower performance when moving from the lowest to the highest preset.

Q: Does the Ryzen 9 9950X3D's 128 MB of L3 cache help in this game?

A: The data shows no evidence of the large cache providing a measurable benefit, as the system's frame rates are overwhelmingly constrained by the GPU. The 3D V-Cache's advantages would only appear with a more capable graphics card.

Q: Is the Intel Arc B370's 25 W TDP a limiting factor?

A: The GPU's 25 W TDP and its "System Shared" memory configuration indicate an integrated-class part, and the benchmark results confirm this is the primary bottleneck. The GPU's 5th percentile ranking among all GPUs supports this conclusion.

Q: Can this combo achieve 60 FPS at 1440p?

A: No. The highest average FPS at 2560x1440 is 58 at Low settings, which falls just short of 60 FPS. All other settings at this resolution produce lower averages, with High at 36 FPS, Medium at 42 FPS, and Ultra at 27 FPS.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is the defining component in this system's Lockdown Protocol performance, and its specifications explain why the frame rates are so low. It operates with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz, with a memory configuration listed as "System Shared" for size, type, and bus width. This means the GPU relies on system memory rather than dedicated VRAM, and bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent," which introduces variability based on the rest of the system.

The GPU's compute capabilities are modest: 1280 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 20 ROPs, with 10 ray tracing cores. Its pixel rate is 48.00 GPixel/s and texture rate is 96.00 GTexel/s, with FP32 performance at 6.144 TFLOPS. These figures place the Arc B370 in the 5th percentile of all GPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 1184. Its nearest rivals are all older integrated or entry-level discrete parts: the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (0.2% faster), ATI Radeon HD 5770 (0.5% faster), and AMD Radeon HD 7650M (0.7% faster), with the AMD FirePro M2000 being 1.4% slower.

In Lockdown Protocol, this GPU's limitations are stark. At 4K, the Arc B370 manages only 18 FPS on Ultra, 23 FPS on High, 27 FPS on Medium, and 38 FPS on Low. The step down to 1440p improves things somewhat, but the pattern remains: the GPU cannot sustain playable frame rates above 1080p Low. The memory architecture being "System Shared" means there is no dedicated VRAM pool, which likely contributes to the performance collapse at higher resolutions where memory bandwidth demands increase. The data shows a clear linear scaling with resolution, indicating the GPU's fill rate and memory subsystem are the constraining factors, not the CPU.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 2611 out of 2828 tested combinations places it in the lowest tier of performance for Lockdown Protocol. This position is almost entirely determined by the Intel Arc B370's capabilities, as the GPU sits in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. The CPU, in contrast, sits in the 95th percentile of all CPUs, creating a massive imbalance.

The data indicates this is a severely bottlenecked configuration. The GPU's average benchmark score of 1184 is comparable to parts from over a decade ago, while the CPU's average benchmark score of 75779 is near the top of the charts. The nearest CPU rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755 (0.1% faster), AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755X3D (0.1% faster), and AMD EPYC 8224P (0.3% faster), all of which would be considered high-end processors. The GPU's nearest rivals are at least 15 years old in terms of architecture, illustrating the generation gap between the two components.

In practical terms, this combo ranks below the vast majority of systems tested for this game. The 2611th position out of 2828 means only 217 combos performed worse, which is a clear signal that the Arc B370 is not suitable for Lockdown Protocol at any resolution above 1080p Low. The ranking would likely improve dramatically with a different GPU, as the CPU's 95th percentile standing suggests it is capable of much higher frame rates when paired with appropriate graphics hardware.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of this combo's performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the results are as follows: Low settings produce an average of 80 FPS, Medium produces 57 FPS with a minimum of 48 and maximum of 65, High produces 49 FPS, and Ultra produces 37 FPS. This is the only resolution where any preset achieves a playable frame rate, and even then, only Low settings clear the 60 FPS mark.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops significantly. Low settings average 58 FPS, which is close to but not quite at the 60 FPS target. Medium settings average 42 FPS with a range of 35 to 48, High settings average 36 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 27 FPS. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows an average reduction of about 27.5% across all settings, which is consistent with a GPU-bound scenario where the increased pixel count directly impacts fill rate.

At 3840x2160, the results are largely unplayable. Low settings average 38 FPS, Medium averages 27 FPS with a range of 23 to 31, High averages 23 FPS, and Ultra drops to 18 FPS. The jump from 1440p to 4K reduces performance by another 34% on average, further confirming the GPU's inability to handle higher resolutions. The minimum FPS values provided for Medium settings at each resolution show that frame pacing can be inconsistent, with the 1080p Medium minimum of 48 FPS being noticeably lower than the average, indicating potential stutters during intense scenes.

The overall pattern is one of consistent, predictable scaling. Each step up in resolution or settings costs a roughly proportional amount of performance, which is the hallmark of a GPU-limited system. The CPU's 16 cores and 32 threads are not the constraint here; the Arc B370's 6.144 TFLOPS of FP32 performance simply cannot render Lockdown Protocol at higher quality settings.

Settings Recommendations

The data points to a single viable configuration for this combo: 1920x1080 with Low settings, which produces an average of 80 FPS. This is the only preset that delivers a frame rate clearly above the 60 FPS target, providing headroom for demanding scenes. The next closest option, 2560x1440 Low at 58 FPS, falls just short of 60 FPS and would likely dip below during action sequences.

For users who prioritize visual quality over frame rate, the 1080p Medium preset offers a compromise at 57 FPS, but the minimum of 48 FPS suggests occasional drops that could be noticeable in a fast-paced FPS. The 1080p High preset at 49 FPS is borderline, while Ultra at 37 FPS is not recommended for any serious gameplay.

At higher resolutions, the options are severely limited. 1440p Low at 58 FPS is the only playable option at that resolution, and even it is marginal. 4K is effectively off the table, with the best case being 38 FPS on Low settings. The data shows that sacrificing resolution for settings yields better results: 1080p Low at 80 FPS is a significantly smoother experience than 1440p Medium at 42 FPS or 4K Low at 38 FPS.

For the best experience, the recommendation is clear: run Lockdown Protocol at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This provides the highest average frame rate and the most consistent performance. If a higher resolution is desired, 1440p Low is the only viable option, but users should be prepared for frame rates hovering around 58 FPS. The Ultra preset should be avoided entirely, as it reduces performance by more than half compared to Low at every resolution.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is a 16-core, 32-thread processor from the 9000 series, built on the Zen 5 architecture with the Granite Ridge codename. It operates on a 4 nm process from TSMC, with a base clock of 4.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.70 GHz. The CPU features 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and a substantial 128 MB of L3 cache, which is the hallmark of the X3D line. Its TDP is 170 W, and it supports DDR5 memory with dual-channel configuration and a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s.

Benchmark data shows this CPU is a top-tier performer. It scores 42018 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 2259 in single-core, with a Geekbench multicore score of 26736 and single-core of 3064. The 3DMark results show strong scaling from 1292 single-thread to 17184 max-threads, indicating excellent multi-threading capabilities. In PassMark, it scores 70255 in multithread and 4737 in single-thread, with particularly high scores in integer math (243209) and floating point math (159724). The CPU's 95th percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 75779, places it near the top of the desktop processor hierarchy.

However, in Lockdown Protocol with the Arc B370, the CPU's role is almost entirely passive. The measured FPS data shows no scenario where the CPU could be the limiting factor, as the GPU is clearly saturated at all settings. At 1080p Low, the 80 FPS average is likely near the maximum the GPU can produce, regardless of the CPU's capabilities. The CPU's massive L3 cache and high core count would theoretically help in CPU-bound scenarios, but the Arc B370's 5th percentile GPU ranking ensures the system never reaches that point.

The data shows that this CPU is vastly overqualified for the GPU it is paired with. Its nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score — the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755, AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755X3D, and AMD EPYC 8224P — are all server or professional parts, indicating the 9950X3D's performance class. In a balanced system, this CPU would be paired with a GPU in the top percentile, not the bottom 5%. The result is a configuration where the CPU idles at relatively low utilization while the GPU struggles to maintain playable frame rates, wasting the potential of the 16-core processor.