Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol, a 2024 FPS title, presents a demanding workload that heavily favors the GPU. When paired with the Intel Core i7-14700KF and the Intel Arc B390, the benchmark data reveals a system where graphical settings and resolution dictate playability far more than the processor's capabilities. The measured frames per second (FPS) across various configurations tell a clear story of a component bottleneck, with the Intel Arc B390 serving as the primary constraint in this specific build.

Resolution Scaling

The data shows a steep and consistent drop in frame rates as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. This pattern is a classic indicator that the graphics card is the limiting factor, as its workload expands significantly with each pixel rendered. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 88 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same settings, the average falls to 65 FPS, a substantial decrease of 23 FPS. When pushing to 3840x2160, the average plummets further to 42 FPS, demonstrating that the performance cost of higher resolutions is non-linear and severe for this GPU.

The trend holds across all settings presets. With High settings, the average FPS drops from 55 at 1080p to 40 at 1440p, and finally to 26 at 4K. The Ultra preset, the most demanding, sees the average frame rate fall from 41 at 1080p to 30 at 1440p and a nearly unplayable 19 at 4K. This consistent proportional decline across all presets reinforces the conclusion that the GPU's rendering throughput is the bottleneck. The CPU, with its 20 cores and 28 threads, is not the limiting factor here; if it were, we would expect to see a smaller performance gap between 1080p and 1440p, as the CPU load would remain similar.

The scaling from 1440p to 4K is particularly punishing. At Low settings, the drop from 65 to 42 FPS represents a 35% reduction in performance. At Medium settings, the frame rate goes from 46 to 30, a 35% drop as well. This indicates that the Intel Arc B390's memory bandwidth and processing power are simply saturated by the 4K resolution, making it an impractical target for smooth gameplay in this title, even at the lowest visual quality. The 1080p and 1440p resolutions are far more viable, with 1080p offering the only path to consistently high frame rates.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is the definitive performance ceiling in this configuration. Its benchmark score in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 is 1482, a figure that places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs and directly alongside the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, which scores 1463. This data point alone contextualizes the FPS results, indicating that the GPU is designed for basic graphical output rather than high-end gaming. The architecture, Xe3-LPG, and its 3 nm process node are modern, but the implementation is clearly limited.

The GPU's memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system's main memory rather than dedicated VRAM. Its bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent," which suggests that performance can vary based on the speed of the system RAM. This shared memory architecture is a significant factor in the poor scaling at higher resolutions, as the GPU must compete with the CPU for memory access. The boost clock of 2500 MHz and base clock of 300 MHz are the only clock speed data points, and while they are not directly comparable to other cards without further data, the resulting performance metrics place it firmly in the entry-level segment. The 7.680 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power, while a specific figure, translates to the low frame rates observed in the 4K tests.

The GPU's role as the bottleneck is further supported by the fact that its nearest rivals are all legacy NVIDIA parts, such as the GeForce 800M and GT 625 OEM. These are not modern gaming GPUs, and the Arc B390's position among them in the benchmark percentile confirms its classification. In Lockdown Protocol, this means that even with a powerful CPU like the Core i7-14700KF, the user's experience will be dictated entirely by the Arc B390's ability to process the frame. The data suggests that this GPU can handle the game at lower resolutions and settings, but it will struggle to maintain playable frame rates in more demanding scenarios.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of tested hardware combinations for Lockdown Protocol, this specific pairing of the Core i7-14700KF and the Arc B390 ranks at 2512 out of 2828 total combos. This places it in the bottom 11% of all tested systems, a position that aligns perfectly with the GPU's low percentile ranking. The rank is a direct consequence of the GPU's performance, as the CPU is a high-end part that would rank much higher with a more capable graphics card.

This low ranking is not a reflection of the CPU's capabilities but rather proof of the imbalance of the pairing. The data shows that the system's overall gaming performance is dragged down by the GPU. The combo rank of 2512 is a critical metric for users to understand, as it indicates that this configuration will deliver a subpar experience in a demanding title like Lockdown Protocol compared to the vast majority of other tested builds. The delta between the CPU's high benchmark scores and the combo's low game rank is stark, highlighting the importance of balancing components for gaming workloads.

The information strongly suggests that while the processor is more than capable of handling the game's logic and physics, the frame rate will be entirely limited by the graphics card. Users considering this combo for gaming should be aware that the ranking reflects a system that is not optimized for FPS titles. The only positive takeaway is that the CPU offers headroom for a future GPU upgrade, which would dramatically improve the system's rank, but as measured, this pairing is one of the weaker performers in the database.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Lockdown Protocol at 4K resolution?

A: Technically, yes, but the performance is not ideal. The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 ranges from 19 FPS on Ultra settings to 42 FPS on Low settings. Only the Low preset approaches a playable frame rate, while the High and Ultra presets result in averages of 26 and 19 FPS, respectively.

Q: What is the best resolution to play this game with this hardware?

A: According to the data, 1920x1080 offers the best performance. At this resolution, the system achieves an average of 88 FPS on Low settings and 63 FPS on Medium settings. The 2560x1440 resolution is also viable, but with a significant performance cost, dropping the average FPS by roughly 20-30% compared to 1080p.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-14700KF bottlenecking the Intel Arc B390?

A: No, the data indicates the opposite. The GPU is the limiting factor. This is evident from the high CPU benchmark scores and the significant FPS drops that occur when increasing resolution and graphical settings, which are GPU-bound tasks. The CPU has ample power to feed this GPU.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its nearest rivals in terms of raw GPU score?

A: In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark, the Intel Arc B390 scored 1482. This is 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX's score of 1463 and 2.5% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM's score of 1446. These are very small differences, placing the Arc B390 in the same performance tier as these older, entry-level GPUs.

Q: What kind of frame rate can I expect at 1080p with High settings?

A: The measured average FPS for 1920x1080 with High settings is 55. This suggests a playable, though not high-refresh-rate, experience. For smoother performance, dropping to Medium settings raises the average to 63 FPS.

Q: What is the overall performance rank of this CPU and GPU combo for this game?

A: The combo ranks 2512 out of 2828 tested combinations for Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the bottom percentile of systems, indicating that it is a low-performing configuration for this specific game, primarily due to the graphics card.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, achieving a smooth and responsive experience in Lockdown Protocol requires careful selection of graphical settings. The primary goal is to maintain a frame rate that is consistently above 60 FPS. The only configuration that achieves this comfortably is at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings, which yields an average of 88 FPS. This is the recommended starting point for any user prioritizing frame rate over visual fidelity.

For users with a 1080p monitor who seek a better visual balance, the Medium preset is a strong alternative. With an average of 63 FPS, it provides a solid gameplay experience while offering better visual quality than Low. The High preset at 1080p drops to an average of 55 FPS, which is still playable but enters a range where frame drops may be more noticeable. The Ultra preset at this resolution is not recommended, as its 41 FPS average falls below the desired smoothness threshold.

At 2560x1440, the situation becomes more challenging. The Low preset is the only one that offers a consistently playable experience, with an average of 65 FPS. The Medium preset's average of 46 FPS is on the edge of playability, and the High and Ultra presets, with averages of 40 and 30 FPS, are too demanding for this GPU. For 4K resolution, none of the settings presets provide a good experience. Even the Low preset averages only 42 FPS, which is below the ideal smoothness threshold, making 4K an impractical choice for this hardware. The data suggests that users should prioritize 1080p with Medium or Low settings to get the best balance of performance and visual quality.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700KF is a high-end desktop processor with 20 cores and 28 threads, based on the Raptor Lake architecture. Its benchmark scores are exceptionally strong, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 44167 and a Geekbench single-core score of 2578. Its average benchmark score is 70163, placing it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. This data shows that the processor is a top-tier part capable of handling the most demanding computational tasks.

In the context of Lockdown Protocol, the CPU's role is to handle game logic, physics, and AI, while the GPU renders the frames. The data strongly suggests that the CPU is not a bottleneck in this system. The evidence is the dramatic FPS scaling with resolution changes. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the frame rates at 1080p and 4K would be much closer, as the CPU workload would be similar. Instead, we see a massive drop in FPS as resolution increases, which is a classic sign of a GPU bottleneck.

The processor's high single-thread and multi-thread performance ensures it is more than capable of feeding the Arc B390 with draw calls and data. The CPU's performance is so far ahead of the GPU that it is effectively idling in comparison. This is reflected in the combo's low rank of 2512, which is entirely attributable to the GPU. The Core i7-14700KF provides a massive amount of untapped potential, making it a future-proof component for a GPU upgrade, but in this specific pairing, its role is to provide a stable and unconstrained platform for the graphics card to work.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is the complete set of measured average FPS data for Lockdown Protocol with the Intel Core i7-14700KF and Intel Arc B390.

At 1920x1080, the performance is highest. With Low settings, the average FPS is 88. The Medium preset yields an average of 63 FPS, with a minimum of 53 and a maximum of 72. High settings produce an average of 55 FPS, while the Ultra preset drops to an average of 41 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates decrease significantly. The Low settings preset achieves an average of 65 FPS. Medium settings average 46 FPS, with a minimum of 39 and a maximum of 53. High settings average 40 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 30 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the performance is the lowest. The Low settings preset averages 42 FPS. Medium settings average 30 FPS, with a minimum of 25 and a maximum of 34. High settings average 26 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages a mere 19 FPS. This data shows a clear and consistent performance hierarchy, with 1080p providing the only playable experience and 4K being unsuitable for smooth gameplay.