Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol is a 2024 FPS that stresses system balance more than raw component strength, and the pairing of the Intel Core i5-14600K with the Intel Arc B370 produces a highly specific set of results. The data shows a combo that ranks in the 8th percentile of all tested configurations, placing it at rank 2611 out of 2828 total combos. This is not a high-performance pairing; it is a study in bottleneck behavior, where a capable desktop processor is held back by an integrated graphics solution operating far outside its intended performance envelope.

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

The Intel Core i5-14600K is a 14-core, 20-thread desktop processor built on Intel's Raptor Lake architecture. It operates with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, with a 125 W TDP. The chip features a 24 MB shared L3 cache and 2 MB per-core L2 cache, alongside 80 KB of L1 cache per core. This is a high-end desktop part, evidenced by its 90th percentile ranking among all CPUs and an average benchmark score of 48618. In synthetic tests, it achieves a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 24491 and a single-core score of 2064, indicating strong multithreaded and single-threaded capability that is typically well-suited for modern game logic and physics.

For Lockdown Protocol, the CPU's role is to feed the graphics pipeline and handle game simulation. The 14 cores and 20 threads provide ample headroom for background tasks and the game's core logic. However, the benchmark results in this specific pairing show that the CPU is not the limiting factor. The measured FPS figures are consistently low across all resolutions, which is a hallmark of a GPU-bound scenario. The i5-14600K's potential is largely untapped because the Arc B370 cannot request enough frames to keep the CPU busy. The processor's nearest rivals in the overall database include the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H (deltaPct -0.2), the AMD EPYC 4345P (deltaPct 0.3), and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX (deltaPct 0.7), all of which have similar average scores. This places the i5-14600K in a competitive position among CPUs, but that standing is irrelevant to the final in-game experience here.

The processor's strong single-thread performance, as shown by its Geekbench single-core score of 2491, is typically beneficial for FPS games where frame pacing depends on quick CPU responses. Yet, the data suggests that even at 1080p Low settings, where the CPU load is proportionally higher, the average FPS is only 80. This is a modest result for a CPU of this caliber, confirming that the graphics subsystem is the primary constraint. The CPU is ready for high refresh rates, but the GPU in this combo prevents it from ever reaching that state.

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

The Intel Arc B370 is the decisive component in this pairing, and its specifications explain the performance ceiling. This is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on a 3 nm process. It has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. The memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system's main memory rather than dedicated VRAM, with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." The GPU features 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 raster output units, along with 10 ray tracing cores. Its compute power is rated at 6.144 TFLOPS for FP32 operations.

The Arc B370's benchmark presence is minimal. It has a single recorded 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184, which places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. This is an exceptionally low score, and its nearest rivals in the database are all legacy parts: the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (deltaPct -0.2), the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (deltaPct -0.5), and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M (deltaPct -0.7). These comparisons are telling; the Arc B370 is performing at a level comparable to graphics hardware from over a decade ago.

In Lockdown Protocol, the GPU's role is to render frames, and its shared memory architecture and low fill rate (48.00 GPixel/s pixel rate) are primary bottlenecks. The results show that the GPU cannot maintain playable frame rates at higher settings. At 1080p Ultra, the average FPS drops to 37, while at 4K Ultra, it falls to 18. The gap between Low and Ultra settings is significant, but even at the lowest settings, the GPU's ceiling is low. The 25 W TDP and IGP slot width indicate this is designed for low-power, portable devices, not for gaming desktops. The GPU's architecture supports DirectX 12 Ultimate and Vulkan 1.4, but the hardware throughput is insufficient to leverage these APIs for high performance in a demanding FPS title.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combined performance of the i5-14600K and Arc B370 in Lockdown Protocol is poor by any standard. The combo ranks 2611 out of 2828 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom 8% of all systems. This ranking reflects the severe imbalance between the CPU and GPU. The i5-14600K is a top-tier desktop processor, but the Arc B370 is a low-tier integrated solution, and the benchmark results show that the combination cannot overcome the GPU's limitations.

This ranking is not indicative of the CPU's potential; it is a direct consequence of the GPU choice. A system with a weaker CPU but a dedicated mid-range GPU would likely rank significantly higher. The data suggests that the combo is only suitable for low-resolution, low-detail gaming, and even then, the frame rates are not competitive. The rank of 2611 out of 2828 is a clear signal that this is a mismatched pairing for a game like Lockdown Protocol, which appears to have moderate system requirements but still demands a functional graphics solution.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at how the combo scales across different resolutions and settings. The results are consistent with a GPU-bound system where the integrated graphics are the primary limiter.

At 1920x1080, the lowest resolution tested, the combo achieves an average of 80 FPS on Low settings. This is the only configuration that approaches playable frame rates for a competitive FPS. Moving to Medium settings, the average drops to 57 FPS, with a minimum of 48 and a maximum of 65. High settings yield 49 FPS, and Ultra settings bring the average down to 37 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p is a 43 FPS drop, or about 54%, showing that the GPU has limited headroom for quality improvements.

At 2560x1440, the performance degrades further. Low settings produce an average of 58 FPS, which is a significant drop from 1080p. Medium settings average 42 FPS (min 35, max 48), High settings average 36 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 27 FPS. The pattern is clear: the GPU cannot sustain high frame rates at this resolution, and even Low settings are barely acceptable.

At 3840x2160, the results are largely unplayable. Low settings average 38 FPS, Medium settings average 27 FPS (min 23, max 31), High settings average 23 FPS, and Ultra settings average 18 FPS. The 4K resolution is simply too demanding for the Arc B370, and the frame rates are below the threshold for a smooth experience. The data shows that the combo is only viable for 1080p gaming at Low or Medium settings, and even then, the frame rates are not high enough for high-refresh-rate displays.

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

The resolution scaling behavior is a textbook example of a GPU bottleneck. From 1080p Low to 4K Low, the average FPS drops from 80 to 38, a 52.5% reduction. From 1080p Ultra to 4K Ultra, the drop is from 37 to 18, a 51.4% reduction. This consistent halving of performance when moving from 1080p to 4K indicates that the GPU is operating at its maximum capacity even at the lowest settings.

If the CPU were the limiting factor, the FPS would remain relatively constant across resolutions, as the CPU's workload does not change significantly with resolution. Instead, the frame rate scales inversely with resolution, which is the definitive signature of a GPU-bound scenario. The Arc B370's shared memory bandwidth and low pixel fill rate are the primary causes. The data shows that the GPU's performance ceiling is reached at 1080p Low, and any increase in resolution or graphical fidelity directly reduces the frame rate.

The scaling also reveals that the i5-14600K is not contributing to the bottleneck. At 4K Ultra, the CPU is likely idle waiting for the GPU to render frames. The combo's performance is entirely dictated by the Arc B370, and the CPU's substantial processing power is wasted. This analysis confirms that the limiting component is unequivocally the GPU, and the CPU has no meaningful impact on the measured FPS in this configuration.

FAQ

Q: Is this combo capable of running Lockdown Protocol at 4K?

A: No. The measured data shows average FPS of 38 at 4K Low and 18 at 4K Ultra, both of which are below playable thresholds.

Q: What is the best settings configuration for this combo?

A: The data indicates that 1080p Low is the only setting that produces an average FPS above 60, with a score of 80 FPS. 1080p Medium is the next best option at 57 FPS.

Q: How does the Arc B370 compare to its closest GPU rivals?

A: The Arc B370's 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1184 is nearly identical to the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186, deltaPct -0.2) and the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190, deltaPct -0.5).

Q: Is the Core i5-14600K a strong processor for gaming?

A: Yes, the CPU ranks in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 24491 and a Passmark single-thread score of 4270. However, this strength is not reflected in the game's FPS due to the GPU bottleneck.

Q: What does the combo's rank of 2611 out of 2828 indicate?

A: It indicates that this pairing performs worse than 92% of all tested combos in Lockdown Protocol, making it a very low-performing configuration overall.

Q: Does the GPU's shared memory affect performance?

A: Yes, the Arc B370 uses "System Shared" memory with "System Dependent" bandwidth, which is a significant limitation compared to dedicated VRAM, contributing to the low FPS at all resolutions.