Lockdown Protocol

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core i5-12600KF is a 10-core, 16-thread desktop processor based on the Alder Lake-S architecture, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. It carries a 125 W TDP and uses the Intel Socket 1700 platform. In synthetic workloads, this CPU posts a multi-threaded 3DMark score of 7956 at 16 threads and 7952 at max threads, while single-thread performance reaches 1016 in 3DMark and 3925 in PassMark single-thread tests. Cinebench R23 results show 23391 multi-core and 3302 single-core scores, indicating strong headroom for both lightly threaded and heavily threaded game logic.

For Lockdown Protocol, the CPU’s role is primarily to feed the GPU with draw calls and handle game simulation. The benchmark data shows that at 1080p Low, the system achieves 80 FPS average, which is the highest measured result across all settings and resolutions. This suggests that at lower graphical loads, the CPU is capable of pushing well beyond 60 FPS, and the bottleneck shifts to the GPU as settings increase. The processor’s 20 MB of shared L3 cache and 1.25 MB L2 per core help maintain consistent frame pacing, particularly in FPS titles where asset streaming and entity updates are frequent.

When comparing to nearest rivals, the i5-12600KF sits within 0.3% of the Intel Core i9-10900K (average score 27872) and the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D (average score 27896), while edging out the AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE by 0.3% (27712). This places the chip in a competitive mid-range tier where CPU-side limitations are unlikely to be the primary constraint in Lockdown Protocol, except perhaps at the lowest settings where the GPU is underutilized. The 79th percentile ranking among all CPUs reinforces that this processor has ample compute headroom for the game’s demands.

The measured FPS pattern across resolutions confirms this interpretation. At 1080p Low, the 80 FPS result is 23 FPS higher than 1440p Low (58 FPS) and 42 FPS higher than 4K Low (38 FPS). If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect similar FPS regardless of resolution, as the CPU workload would remain constant. Instead, the steep drop with resolution indicates that the GPU becomes the dominant bottleneck as pixel count increases. The CPU’s 3DMark 2-thread score of 1995 and 4-thread score of 3806 show that even modest thread counts deliver solid performance, which suits a game that likely uses a handful of primary threads for core logic.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

The measured data reveals a clear trade-off between visual fidelity and frame rate. At 1080p, the Low preset delivers 80 FPS average, Medium drops to 57 FPS, High falls to 49 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 37 FPS. The step from Low to Medium costs 23 FPS (a 29% reduction), while the step from High to Ultra costs 12 FPS (a 24% reduction). For competitive FPS gameplay, the Low preset at 1080p is the only setting that comfortably exceeds 60 FPS, providing the smoothest experience for fast-paced aiming and reaction-based play.

At 1440p, the situation tightens further. Low yields 58 FPS, which is just shy of 60 FPS but playable, while Medium drops to 42 FPS and High to 36 FPS. Ultra at 1440p manages only 27 FPS, which is below the threshold for responsive gameplay. For 4K, even Low struggles at 38 FPS, and Ultra is nearly unplayable at 18 FPS. Given these numbers, the recommendation for the best experience is the Low preset at 1080p, where the 80 FPS average provides the headroom needed for consistent frame delivery during intense combat sequences.

However, for players who prioritize visual quality over raw frame rate, the Medium preset at 1080p (57 FPS) offers a balanced middle ground. The min FPS at this setting is 48, which means the worst-case frame drops stay above 45 FPS, avoiding the most jarring stutters. The High preset at 1080p (49 FPS) is borderline, and the Ultra preset (37 FPS) should be reserved for screenshot purposes or slow-paced exploration rather than competitive play. The data clearly indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor at higher settings, as evidenced by the 4K Ultra result of 18 FPS, which is only 23% of the 1080p Low score.

For players with 1440p monitors, the Low preset at 58 FPS is the only viable option for smooth gameplay, though it sacrifices visual detail. The Medium preset at 42 FPS may be acceptable for less demanding scenarios, but the min FPS of 35 at 1440p Medium suggests occasional dips below 40 FPS, which can be noticeable during firefights. Overall, the measured rows point to a simple conclusion: run Low at 1080p for the best competitive experience, or accept lower frame rates at higher presets if visual fidelity is paramount.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The FPS scaling across resolutions provides a clear diagnostic of the system bottleneck. Moving from 1080p Low (80 FPS) to 1440p Low (58 FPS) results in a 27.5% drop, while moving from 1440p Low to 4K Low (38 FPS) results in a 34.5% drop. At Medium settings, the progression is 57 FPS at 1080p, 42 FPS at 1440p, and 27 FPS at 4K — a 26.3% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a 35.7% drop from 1440p to 4K. This pattern is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario, where each doubling of pixel count (from 1080p to 4K is roughly 4x the pixels) leads to a disproportionate FPS reduction.

If the CPU were the limiting factor, the FPS would remain relatively flat across resolutions, since the CPU workload is independent of pixel count. Instead, the consistent 25-35% FPS drops between successive resolution steps indicate that the Intel Arc B370 is saturated at higher pixel counts. The 4K Ultra result of 18 FPS is particularly telling — it represents only 22.5% of the 1080p Low performance, which is consistent with a GPU that is overwhelmed by the combination of high resolution and high graphical settings.

The scaling behavior also reveals that the GPU’s memory bandwidth, listed as "System Dependent" and utilizing "System Shared" memory, becomes a constraint at higher resolutions. The Arc B370’s 300 MHz base and 2400 MHz boost clocks are modest for a discrete-class GPU, and the 25 W TDP suggests a power-constrained design that cannot sustain high clocks under heavy load. The 6.144 TFLOPS FP32 throughput and 96.00 GTexel/s texture rate are sufficient for 1080p gaming but quickly become inadequate as pixel count rises.

The measured FPS at 1080p High (49 FPS) versus 4K High (23 FPS) shows a 53% reduction, which is steeper than the pixel count scaling alone would predict. This suggests that the GPU’s limited ROP count (20) and TMU count (40) create bottlenecks at higher resolutions, particularly when effects like anti-aliasing and shadows are enabled. In contrast, the CPU’s performance remains stable across all resolutions, as evidenced by the 3DMark scores and the consistent FPS drops that track with GPU load rather than CPU load.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combination for smooth gameplay?

A: The 1080p Low preset delivers the highest measured average at 80 FPS, which is the only configuration exceeding 60 FPS. The 1440p Low preset at 58 FPS is the second-best option, while 4K is not viable for smooth play since even Low only reaches 38 FPS.

Q: How does the Intel Core i5-12600KF compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The CPU is essentially tied with the Intel Core i9-10900K (27872 average score, -0.3% delta), AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D (27896, -0.3% delta), and AMD Ryzen 7 6800U (27887, -0.3% delta), while being 0.3% faster than the AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE (27712). This places it in a tightly competitive performance band.

Q: Is the Intel Arc B370 powerful enough for Lockdown Protocol at 1080p?

A: At 1080p Low, the GPU delivers 80 FPS, which is playable. However, at 1080p High the FPS drops to 49, and at Ultra it falls to 37. The GPU’s 5th percentile ranking among all GPUs and its nearest rivals (ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, ATI Radeon HD 5770) indicate it is a low-end solution for this game.

Q: What does the min FPS data tell us about frame consistency?

A: The only settings with min FPS data are Medium at each resolution: 48 min at 1080p, 35 min at 1440p, and 23 min at 4K. These minimums are roughly 16-19% below the average FPS, indicating that the Medium preset experiences noticeable frame drops during intense scenes, though not catastrophic stutters.

Q: How does the CPU’s multi-threaded performance affect gameplay?

A: The CPU’s Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 23391 and 3DMark 16-thread score of 7956 show strong parallel processing capabilities. However, the FPS scaling across resolutions suggests the CPU is not the bottleneck, as frame rates drop consistently with increasing resolution, indicating GPU saturation.

Q: Why is the 4K Ultra setting so slow at 18 FPS?

A: The 4K Ultra combination requires the GPU to render four times the pixels of 1080p while also handling maximum graphical effects. The Arc B370’s 20 ROPs and 40 TMUs, combined with system-shared memory bandwidth, are insufficient for this workload. The result is 18 FPS, which is only 22.5% of the 1080p Low performance.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Arc B370 is a 25 W integrated-class GPU based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on a 3 nm process with the Panther Lake chip. It features 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 raster output units, with 10 ray tracing cores. The GPU’s base clock is 300 MHz, boosting to 2400 MHz, and it uses system-shared memory with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." This configuration is fundamentally limited for gaming, as evidenced by its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184, which places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs.

In Lockdown Protocol, the GPU’s role becomes increasingly dominant as settings and resolution rise. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 80 FPS, which is the only result above 60 FPS. The GPU’s 6.144 TFLOPS FP32 throughput and 96.00 GTexel/s texture rate are sufficient for low-detail 1080p rendering, but the 48.00 GPixel/s pixel rate becomes a bottleneck at higher resolutions. The nearest rival, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186 average score, -0.2% delta), and ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190, -0.5% delta) confirm that the Arc B370 is in the entry-level performance tier.

The GPU’s shared memory architecture means that available bandwidth depends on the system’s memory configuration, which is a limiting factor in a game like Lockdown Protocol that likely streams textures and geometry. At 1080p Medium, the min FPS of 48 indicates that even moderate settings cause frame drops, while 4K Ultra at 18 FPS demonstrates that the GPU is completely overwhelmed at high pixel counts. The 2400 MHz boost clock provides some headroom, but the 25 W TDP caps sustained performance, preventing the GPU from maintaining high clocks during extended gaming sessions.

The measured FPS data clearly shows that the GPU is the primary constraint for this system in Lockdown Protocol. The CPU’s 79th percentile ranking and strong synthetic scores (Cinebench R23 multi-core 23391, PassMark multi-thread 27575) contrast sharply with the GPU’s 5th percentile ranking and 1184 average benchmark score. This mismatch means that any attempt to increase visual quality beyond Low settings will immediately be throttled by the GPU, regardless of the CPU’s ample compute capacity. The 4K High result of 23 FPS and 1440p Ultra result of 27 FPS underscore that the Arc B370 is best suited for 1080p Low or Medium settings in this title.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The complete measured FPS data for Lockdown Protocol with the Intel Core i5-12600KF and Intel Arc B370 is as follows:

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 80 FPS average
• Medium: 57 FPS average (48 min, 65 max)
• High: 49 FPS average
• Ultra: 37 FPS average

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 58 FPS average
• Medium: 42 FPS average (35 min, 48 max)
• High: 36 FPS average
• Ultra: 27 FPS average

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 38 FPS average
• Medium: 27 FPS average (23 min, 31 max)
• High: 23 FPS average
• Ultra: 18 FPS average

At 1080p, the range from Low to Ultra spans 43 FPS (80 to 37), representing a 54% performance drop when moving to maximum settings. The Medium preset’s min FPS of 48 shows that even mid-range settings can experience significant frame dips, while the max FPS of 65 indicates that the GPU can occasionally reach higher frame rates when scenes are less demanding. The 1080p Low result of 80 FPS is the standout figure, providing a smooth experience for competitive play.

At 1440p, the performance drops noticeably, with Low at 58 FPS being the only setting that approaches playable territory. The Medium preset at 42 FPS (35 min) may cause noticeable stutters during action sequences, while High at 36 FPS and Ultra at 27 FPS are best avoided for gameplay. The 1440p data shows a 31 FPS gap between Low and Ultra, which is a 53% reduction — consistent with the GPU-bound nature of the system.

At 4K, all settings are below 40 FPS, with Low at 38 FPS being the most playable option, though still below the 60 FPS target. Medium at 27 FPS, High at 23 FPS, and Ultra at 18 FPS are all effectively unplayable for a fast-paced FPS. The 4K Medium min FPS of 23 highlights the severity of frame drops at this resolution. The overall trend across resolutions shows that each doubling of resolution reduces FPS by roughly 25-35%, confirming that the Intel Arc B370 is the limiting component and that the CPU has significant headroom remaining.