Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus paired with the Intel Arc B570 presents a specific performance profile in Lockdown Protocol, a 2024-released FPS. The data shows a system with a top-tier CPU and a mid-range GPU, resulting in a combination that performs best at lower resolutions. This analysis breaks down the measured results, contextualizing the CPU and GPU roles, and provides clear guidance on how to optimize the experience.

FAQ

Q: What is the overall performance ranking of this CPU and GPU combo in Lockdown Protocol?

A: The combo ranks 2264 out of 2828 tested combinations, placing it in the 80th percentile of all tested systems. This indicates that while the system is fully capable of playing the game, most other tested configurations deliver higher average frame rates.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B570 compare to its closest rivals in raw GPU compute?

A: The Arc B570 has an average benchmark score of 20,556. This puts it virtually tied with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile, which scores 20,534 and is just 0.1% slower. It is also nearly identical to the Intel Arc A750, which is 0.1% slower, and the AMD Radeon R9 M390X, which is 0.5% faster.

Q: What is the highest average FPS the system achieves at 1080p?

A: The highest average frame rate is 136 FPS, which is achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset. The High preset at the same resolution delivers 84 FPS on average.

Q: What is the highest average FPS the system achieves at 4K?

A: At 3840x2160 resolution, the highest average frame rate is 64 FPS, which is achieved with the Low settings preset. The Ultra preset at this resolution only manages an average of 30 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to be the limiting factor at 4K?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the primary limiting factor at 4K. The CPU is exceptionally powerful, ranking in the 96th percentile among all CPUs, while the GPU ranks in the 65th percentile. The significant frame rate drop at higher resolutions aligns with the GPU's performance ceiling.

Q: Does the CPU's performance have a large impact on the 1080p results?

A: Yes, the CPU's strength is likely a major reason the system can reach 136 FPS at 1080p Low. The Core Ultra 9 290K Plus has a high average benchmark score of 84,003, which is 0.2% faster than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K and 1.2% faster than the AMD EPYC 9135.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B570 is the sole component responsible for rendering graphics in this configuration. Its role is defined by its 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, providing 380.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The GPU operates at a consistent base and boost clock of 2500 MHz. With 2304 shading units, 144 texture mapping units, and 80 raster output units, the card is spec'd for mainstream 1080p and 1440p gaming, but its 150 W TDP and performance metrics suggest it will struggle at higher resolutions.

The GPU's benchmark results place it in the 65th percentile of all GPUs, with an average score of 20,556. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile, is effectively a performance peer, being just 0.1% faster. This context is critical when interpreting the game's frame rates; the Arc B570 is not a high-end part, and its performance in Lockdown Protocol reflects that. For instance, in 3DMark's Steel Nomad DX12 test, it scores 2,649, and in Geekbench's Vulkan test, it scores 96,844. These numbers paint a picture of a capable mid-range GPU that excels in esports-style or less demanding titles.

The data shows a clear scaling pattern tied to the GPU's capabilities. At 2560x1440, the GPU delivers 100 FPS on Low settings, but this drops to 46 FPS on Ultra. This pattern is consistent with a GPU that has enough raw power for lower-fidelity settings but lacks the headroom for the increased shading and texture loads of higher presets. The GPU's 11.52 TFLOPS of FP32 compute and 360.0 GTexel/s texture rate provide the baseline for these results. The "High" preset at 1440p yields 62 FPS, which is a playable but not perfectly smooth experience, while the "Ultra" preset at the same resolution becomes more demanding.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a flagship desktop processor, and its role in this system is to feed the GPU with data and handle game logic. With 24 cores and 24 threads, it offers immense parallel processing power. Its base clock is 3.70 GHz, and it can boost up to 5.80 GHz, allowing for strong single-threaded performance when needed. The 36 MB of shared L3 cache is substantial, and its memory support for DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and 115.2 GB/s of bandwidth ensures the GPU isn't starved for data.

The CPU's benchmark scores are exceptional. It achieves a multi-core score of 51,731 in Cinebench R23 and a single-core score of 7,303 in the same test. This places it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 84,003. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, is only 0.2% slower, indicating that this processor is at the very top of its class. In PassMark's multithread test, it scores 60,860, and in integer math it scores 166,194, demonstrating its capability to handle complex calculations.

In the context of Lockdown Protocol, this CPU is unlikely to be a bottleneck at any resolution. The measured frame rates are more closely tied to the GPU's capabilities. For example, at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system hits 136 FPS; if the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect the frame rate to be more consistent across different resolutions. Instead, we see a sharp decline to 100 FPS at 1440p and 64 FPS at 4K, which is a classic sign of GPU saturation. The CPU's robust single-threaded performance, as evidenced by its Cinebench R20 single-core score of 3,067, ensures that game logic and draw calls are processed efficiently, allowing the GPU to operate at its maximum potential.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the system's performance across three resolutions and four settings presets.

At 1920x1080, the system shows its strongest results. The Low preset delivers an average of 136 FPS, making it the only preset to exceed 100 FPS. The High preset is next, with an average of 84 FPS. The Medium preset yields 96 FPS, with a minimum of 82 FPS and a maximum of 111 FPS. The most demanding Ultra preset still manages an average of 63 FPS, which is a playable frame rate. This resolution is clearly where the combo performs best, with all presets providing a playable experience.

At 2560x1440, performance drops noticeably. The Low preset averages 100 FPS, which is still smooth. The Medium preset averages 71 FPS, with a minimum of 60 FPS and a maximum of 81 FPS. The High preset averages 62 FPS. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, dropping to an average of 46 FPS. This resolution is a trade-off; players can get a high refresh rate experience on Low, but must compromise on visual quality to maintain high frame rates.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is heavily taxed. The Low preset is the only one that remains consistently smooth, averaging 64 FPS. The Medium preset drops to an average of 46 FPS, with a minimum of 39 FPS and a maximum of 52 FPS. The High preset averages 40 FPS, which is on the edge of playability. The Ultra preset is the worst performer, averaging just 30 FPS, which is not a good experience for a fast-paced FPS. The data clearly shows that 4K resolution is not this combo's strong suit, even on lower settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and the Intel Arc B570 ranks 2264th out of 2828 tested configurations in Lockdown Protocol. This puts the system in the lower half of the performance spectrum, despite having a top-tier CPU. This ranking is primarily due to the GPU's performance tier. While the CPU is a high-end part, the Arc B570 is a mid-range GPU, and the game's frame rates are heavily dependent on the GPU.

This ranking is consistent with the individual component benchmarks. The CPU is ranked in the 96th percentile, but the GPU is only in the 65th percentile. The system's overall rank is pulled down by the GPU, which is the weaker link. When comparing to other combos, the data shows that a more balanced pairing would likely rank higher. The GPU's nearest rivals, such as the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile and the Intel Arc A750, would likely produce similar results in this game, but a system with a less powerful CPU and a more powerful GPU would likely achieve a higher rank. The 0.2% performance delta between this CPU and the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, and the 1.1% delta to the AMD EPYC 4584PX, are negligible in gaming, further confirming that the GPU is the primary factor in this rank.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends on the user's target resolution and refresh rate.

For 1920x1080, the Low preset is the best choice for competitive play, as it yields the highest average FPS at 136, which is well above the 120Hz threshold for many monitors. However, for a more balanced visual experience, the Medium preset is a solid choice, providing an average of 96 FPS, which is still very smooth and offers better image quality. The High preset also works, averaging 84 FPS, but the Ultra preset, while playable at 63 FPS, offers diminishing returns for the performance cost.

For 2560x1440, the Low preset is the only one that guarantees a high refresh rate experience, with an average of 100 FPS. The Medium preset is a good compromise for those who want better visuals, offering 71 FPS. The High preset at 62 FPS is suitable for 60Hz monitors. The Ultra preset at 46 FPS is not recommended for a smooth experience.

For 3840x2160, the Low preset is the only viable option for a generally playable frame rate, averaging 64 FPS. The Medium preset is borderline, with an average of 46 FPS, and will feel less smooth. The High and Ultra presets are not recommended for this resolution, as they drop below 40 FPS, which is too low for the fast-paced action of an FPS. For 4K, players should stick to the Low preset to maintain acceptable performance.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K clearly illustrates the performance bottleneck in this system. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 136 at 1080p to 100 at 1440p, a 26.5% decrease. From 1440p to 4K, the FPS drops from 100 to 64, a further 36% decrease. This steep decline indicates that the GPU is being overwhelmed by the increasing pixel count.

At Medium settings, the scaling is similar. The average FPS goes from 96 at 1080p to 71 at 1440p (a 26% drop), and then to 46 at 4K (a 35% drop). The High preset shows the same trend, with FPS dropping from 84 at 1080p to 62 at 1440p (a 26.2% drop), and then to 40 at 4K (a 35.5% drop). The Ultra preset follows the pattern, dropping from 63 at 1080p to 46 at 1440p (a 27% drop), and then to 30 at 4K (a 34.8% drop).

The consistency of these percentage drops across all settings is significant. It suggests that the limiting factor is the GPU's rendering throughput, which is tied to resolution. The CPU's performance is not scaling with resolution, as its workload remains relatively constant. Since the CPU is powerful enough to handle the game's logic at all resolutions, the GPU becomes the sole bottleneck. The data shows that the drop from 1080p to 1440p is significant, but the drop from 1440p to 4K is even more severe, highlighting the GPU's inability to handle the 4K pixel workload. This analysis confirms that the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is not the limiting component; rather, the Intel Arc B570's performance ceiling is what dictates the frame rates at higher resolutions.