Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol is a game that punishes GPU-limited configurations at high resolutions, and the pairing of the Intel Core i7-14700F with the Intel Arc B370 is a textbook example of that dynamic. The measured frame rates across the board show a system where the processor has abundant headroom, but the graphics solution—an integrated part with a 5th percentile ranking among all GPUs—becomes the decisive bottleneck as resolution climbs. This analysis breaks down the exact performance characteristics of this combo, using only the measured data to explain why the experience changes so drastically from 1080p to 4K, what role the 20-core CPU plays, and which settings offer the most playable experience.

Resolution Scaling

The data reveals a stark and consistent decline in average frame rate as resolution increases, which is the signature of a GPU-bound scenario. Starting at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 80 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same Low preset drops that figure to 58 FPS, a reduction of 22 FPS, or roughly 27.5% lower performance. The jump to 3840x2160 at Low settings further reduces the average to 38 FPS, which is another 20 FPS loss and a 34.5% drop from the 1440p result. This pattern of diminishing returns with each resolution step is a clear indicator that the Intel Arc B370, with its 6.144 TFLOPS of FP32 compute and 20 ROPS, is working at its absolute limit.

The scaling is even more punishing at higher quality presets. With High settings, the average frame rate falls from 49 FPS at 1080p to 36 FPS at 1440p (a 13 FPS drop), and then to 23 FPS at 4K (another 13 FPS drop). The percentage losses are similar, but the absolute numbers become critically low for a first-person shooter. At 4K Ultra, the combo bottoms out at an average of 18 FPS, which is effectively unplayable. The 1080p Medium preset delivers 57 FPS, dropping to 42 FPS at 1440p and 27 FPS at 4K. In every case, the transition from 1440p to 4K costs more than the transition from 1080p to 1440p, indicating that the GPU's shading units, TMUs, and ROPs are saturated and cannot keep up with the increased pixel load.

What this scaling tells us about the limiting component is unambiguous. The CPU, a 20-core, 28-thread Intel Core i7-14700F with a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, is not the constraint. If it were, we would expect to see similar frame rates across resolutions, or at least a plateau at higher settings where the CPU becomes the bottleneck. Instead, the average FPS drops by roughly 30-35% with each resolution increase, which is the behavior of a graphics processor that is running out of fillrate and memory bandwidth. The Arc B370's memory is "System Shared," meaning its performance is dependent on the system's RAM, and this configuration is clearly not sufficient for high-resolution rendering in a fast-paced FPS.

The data also shows that the gap between Low and High settings widens as resolution increases. At 1080p, the difference between Low (80 FPS) and High (49 FPS) is 31 FPS. At 1440p, that gap shrinks to 22 FPS (58 vs 36). At 4K, the gap is 15 FPS (38 vs 23). This convergence suggests that at 4K, even the Low preset is demanding too much from the GPU, and the additional work required by High settings cannot be fully offset because the GPU is already maxed out. In essence, the Arc B370 is the sole limiting factor, and no amount of CPU headroom can compensate for its lack of dedicated graphics memory and limited compute resources.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700F is a 20-core, 28-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. Its benchmark scores are impressive, placing it in the 91st percentile of all CPUs. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35122 and single-core score of 4958 indicate a processor that excels in both heavily threaded and lightly threaded workloads. However, in Lockdown Protocol, the data shows that this CPU's role is to stay out of the way. The measured frame rates are far too low for the CPU to be a factor; even at 1080p Low, the combo reaches 80 FPS, which is a modest load for a CPU that can push over 35,000 points in a multi-core render test.

The nearest rivals to the i7-14700F in the benchmark database include the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X, which scores an average of 53288, a delta of 0.6% from the i7-14700F's average benchmark score of 53620. This means the i7-14700F is essentially on par with the Ryzen 9 7900X in synthetic workloads, with a tiny 0.2% lead over the Intel Xeon 6505P and a 0.8% lead over the AMD EPYC 7313P. For gaming, the single-core performance is often more relevant, and the Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4958 is strong. Yet, in this specific game, the GPU's 5th percentile ranking (with an average benchmark score of just 1184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad) means the CPU's theoretical advantages never materialize.

The CPU's cache hierarchy—80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 33 MB shared L3—is ample for game logic and draw calls. The 65 W TDP and support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory mean it can be paired with fast memory, but the "System Shared" memory for the GPU negates that benefit. In practical terms, the i7-14700F is likely rendering frames in microseconds while the Arc B370 takes milliseconds. The bottleneck is so severe that reducing the resolution from 1440p to 1080p only yields a 22 FPS improvement at Low settings, from 58 to 80 FPS. If the CPU were the limiter, we would expect a more significant jump, as the pixel count drops by more than half. Instead, the modest gain confirms that the GPU is the wall.

The data also shows that the i7-14700F's performance percentile (91) is vastly higher than the Arc B370's (5). This mismatch is the core issue. The CPU is a high-end desktop part, while the GPU is an integrated solution designed for low-power mobile devices, with a TDP of just 25 W. The 20 cores and 28 threads are overkill for a game that cannot even maintain 60 FPS at 1080p Medium. Therefore, the CPU role is simply to feed the GPU with enough draw calls and physics calculations; it does so with ease, and the frame rate is entirely dictated by the graphics processor's capabilities.

FAQ

Q: What is the best average frame rate this combo can achieve in Lockdown Protocol?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 80, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This is the only preset and resolution combination that breaks the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the combo perform at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the combo produces an average of 42 FPS, with a minimum of 35 FPS and a maximum of 48 FPS. This is a playable but not smooth experience, with frame times that may cause noticeable stutter in a fast-paced FPS.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-14700F a bottleneck in this configuration?

A: No. The CPU's benchmark scores (e.g., 35122 in Cinebench R23 multi-core) place it in the 91st percentile of all CPUs. The measured FPS drops by 30-35% with each resolution increase, which is characteristic of a GPU bottleneck, not a CPU limitation.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested combinations for this game?

A: The combo ranks 2611 out of 2828 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 8% of all configurations. This is consistent with the GPU's low performance percentile.

Q: How does the Arc B370 compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Arc B370 has an average benchmark score of 1184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad. It is 0.2% behind the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (score 1186), 0.5% behind the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190), and 1.4% ahead of the AMD FirePro M2000 (1168). These are all older or lower-tier parts, indicating the Arc B370's performance class.

Q: What happens to the frame rate when going from 1080p High to 4K High?

A: The average FPS drops from 49 at 1080p High to 23 at 4K High, a reduction of 26 FPS, or 53%. This is a severe penalty that makes 4K High unplayable.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i7-14700F and Intel Arc B370 ranks 2611 out of 2828 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the bottom 7.7% of all configurations, which is a poor result for a system with a high-end CPU. The ranking is almost entirely due to the GPU, which sits in the 5th percentile of all GPUs based on its average benchmark score of 1184. The CPU, by contrast, is in the 91st percentile, with an average benchmark score of 53620. This stark contrast means that the combo's performance is dragged down by the weakest link, and the CPU's potential is entirely wasted in this game.

To contextualize the rank, consider that the i7-14700F's nearest rivals in synthetic CPU benchmarks are all within 0.8% of its average score. For instance, the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X has a delta of 0.6%, meaning the i7-14700F is essentially equivalent in CPU-bound tasks. However, the GPU's nearest rivals are the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 and ATI Radeon HD 5770, which are over a decade old and have scores within 0.5% of the Arc B370. This puts the GPU in a performance tier that is simply not designed for modern FPS gaming at high resolutions. The rank of 2611 reflects this reality: the CPU is a top-tier part, but the GPU is a bottom-tier part, and the combo's overall standing is determined by the latter.

The data also suggests that swapping the GPU for even a modest discrete solution would radically change the ranking, as the CPU has ample headroom. However, the measured FPS for this specific combo is what it is, and the rank is a direct consequence of those measurements. In a game like Lockdown Protocol, which likely relies on rapid frame rendering and low latency, a rank in the bottom 8% means the experience will be compromised, especially at higher settings. The combo is more suited to 1080p Low or Medium at best, and even then, it cannot guarantee a locked 60 FPS.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the only playable experience is at 1920x1080 with Low settings, which yields an average of 80 FPS. This is the sole preset that provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS, which is typically considered the minimum for a smooth FPS experience. The 1080p Medium preset drops to 57 FPS, which is borderline; it may be acceptable for some players, but the average is below the ideal threshold, and the minimum FPS of 48 (with a maximum of 65) indicates frame pacing issues that could affect aiming precision.

At 2560x1440, the best option is Low settings, which produces an average of 58 FPS. This is technically playable, but it is close to the edge, and any intense action sequences could cause drops below 50 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p averages 42 FPS, which is too low for a competitive FPS. At 3840x2160, no preset is playable; even Low settings only manage 38 FPS, and Ultra drops to 18 FPS. Therefore, the recommendation is clear: for a responsive experience, use 1080p Low. If the player must use 1440p, Low is the only viable option, but they should expect occasional frame rate dips.

The data also shows that the difference between Low and Medium at 1080p is 23 FPS (80 vs 57), while the difference between Medium and High is 8 FPS (57 vs 49), and between High and Ultra is 12 FPS (49 vs 37). This suggests that Low to Medium offers the largest performance gain per quality step, while High and Ultra provide diminishing returns in FPS. For players who prioritize visual fidelity over raw speed, the 1080p Medium preset at 57 FPS might be a compromise, but the Low preset is the only one that guarantees a frame rate above the 60 FPS target. The 4K and 1440p resolutions should be avoided for this game with this hardware, as the GPU cannot handle the pixel load.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is the complete set of measured average frame rates for the Intel Core i7-14700F and Intel Arc B370 in Lockdown Protocol, organized by resolution and settings.

At 1920x1080, the combo achieves its best results. With Low settings, the average FPS is 80. The Medium preset yields an average of 57 FPS, with a minimum of 48 and a maximum of 65. High settings produce an average of 49 FPS. The Ultra preset drops to an average of 37 FPS. This resolution is the only one where the combo approaches playable frame rates, and even then, only the Low preset reliably exceeds 60 FPS.

At 2560x1440, performance degrades significantly. Low settings average 58 FPS, which is the only 1440p preset above 50 FPS. Medium settings average 42 FPS, with a minimum of 35 and a maximum of 48. High settings average 36 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 27 FPS. These numbers indicate that 1440p is only viable at Low settings, and even then, the frame rate is not stable enough for competitive play.

At 3840x2160, the combo struggles to remain playable. Low settings average 38 FPS. Medium settings average 27 FPS, with a minimum of 23 and a maximum of 31. High settings average 23 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 18 FPS. No preset at 4K reaches 40 FPS, making this resolution unsuitable for Lockdown Protocol with this hardware.

The data also includes a single 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark score for the GPU, which is 1184. This score, combined with the measured FPS, provides a comprehensive picture of the Arc B370's capabilities. The FPS breakdown confirms that the GPU is the limiting factor at every resolution and settings combination, and the CPU's high benchmark scores (such as the Geekbench multi-core score of 19620 and Passmark multithread score of 41317) have no bearing on the final frame rates. In summary, the measured FPS data shows a system that is only capable of smooth performance at 1080p Low, with all other configurations falling below the 60 FPS threshold, and 4K being entirely unplayable.