The Technomancer

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X paired with the Intel Arc B390 presents a starkly contrasting set of capabilities in The Technomancer. The CPU is a high-end desktop part, while the GPU is an integrated graphics solution. The measured frame rates confirm that the graphics processor is the decisive bottleneck, with playable performance achievable only at the lowest resolutions and presets. This analysis breaks down the recorded data to show exactly where this combination stands, how the components interact, and what settings are viable.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The database contains recorded average, minimum, and maximum frame rates for this combination across three resolutions and four quality presets. The data shows a clear pattern of performance degradation as resolution and graphical load increase.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the results are consistently below playable thresholds. The Low preset produces an average of 28 FPS. The Medium preset averages 22 FPS, with a minimum of 19 FPS and a maximum of 25 FPS. The High preset drops to an average of 19 FPS. The Ultra preset is the slowest, averaging 15 FPS. Notably, the minimum and maximum values are only recorded for the Medium preset at this resolution, with the other presets reporting averages only.

Moving to 2560x1440 (1440p), performance improves but remains insufficient for smooth gameplay. The Low preset averages 52 FPS. The Medium preset records an average of 40 FPS, with a minimum of 34 FPS and a maximum of 46 FPS. The High preset averages 34 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 26 FPS. Similar to 4K, only the Medium preset at this resolution includes the recorded minimum and maximum frame rate data.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the results are the most favorable for this hardware combination. The Low preset achieves an average of 79 FPS, which is the highest recorded average in the entire dataset. The Medium preset averages 61 FPS, with a minimum of 52 FPS and a maximum of 70 FPS. This is the only resolution where any preset clears the 60 FPS playable threshold. The High preset averages 52 FPS, just short of the threshold. The Ultra preset averages 40 FPS.

The data shows a consistent scaling pattern. Reducing the resolution from 4K to 1440p improves frame rates by roughly 80% to 90% across comparable presets. Reducing further from 1440p to 1080p yields another significant improvement, with the Low preset jumping from 52 FPS to 79 FPS. The gap between the Low and Ultra presets is substantial at every resolution, indicating that the graphics settings have a major impact on the final frame rate.

CPU and GPU Roles

The recorded data makes the division of labor clear. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X is a 12-core, 24-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture. It has a strong benchmark profile, including a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 16262 and a single-core score of 1527. Its percentile ranking against all CPUs is 87, which places it well above the majority of tested processors. For a game like The Technomancer, an Action RPG, this CPU provides ample computational headroom.

The Intel Arc B390, however, is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture. Its benchmark presence is minimal, with a single recorded result: a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482. Its percentile ranking against all GPUs is 9, meaning it outperforms only a small fraction of the graphics cards in the database. The GPU has a boost clock of 2500 MHz and a pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s, but its performance class is clearly at the entry level.

The scaling between resolutions reveals that the GPU is the limiting factor. When moving from 1080p to 1440p, the frame rate drops significantly even at the same settings. For example, the High preset falls from 52 FPS to 34 FPS, a reduction of about 35%. Moving from 1440p to 4K, the same preset falls from 34 FPS to 19 FPS, another 44% reduction. This steep decline with increasing pixel count is typical of a system where the graphics processor is saturated, while the CPU has spare capacity.

The CPU's role becomes more apparent when looking at the absolute frame rates. Even at 1080p Low, the system only reaches 79 FPS. A more powerful discrete GPU would likely push this number much higher, but the Arc B390's integrated nature caps the output. The Ryzen 9 5900X is not the constraint in this pairing; the data supports the interpretation that the GPU is responsible for the observed performance ceiling. At 4K, the system falls to between 15 FPS and 28 FPS depending on the preset, which is clearly a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU is likely idle waiting for the graphics pipeline to finish its work.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run The Technomancer at 4K resolution?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the highest recorded average frame rate is 28 FPS on the Low preset. The Medium preset averages 22 FPS, High averages 19 FPS, and Ultra averages 15 FPS. All of these fall far below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best playable setting at 1080p?

A: The Medium preset is the most demanding setting that stays at or above 60 FPS. It records an average of 61 FPS, with a minimum of 52 FPS and a maximum of 70 FPS. The Low preset achieves 79 FPS on average, but Medium offers higher visual quality while still clearing the threshold on average.

Q: How does the Ultra preset perform at 1440p?

A: The Ultra preset at 2560x1440 averages 26 FPS. This is not playable. The High preset is slightly better at 34 FPS, and Medium averages 40 FPS. None of the 1440p presets reach the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: What is the highest average frame rate recorded for this combination?

A: The highest average is 79 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 with the Low settings preset.

Q: Which component is the performance bottleneck?

A: The data indicates the Intel Arc B390 GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU, an AMD Ryzen 9 5900X, ranks in the 87th percentile among all CPUs, while the GPU ranks in the 9th percentile among all GPUs. The sharp frame rate drops with increasing resolution are consistent with a GPU bottleneck.

Q: Is the Medium preset at 1080p a stable experience?

A: The average frame rate is 61 FPS, but the recorded minimum is 52 FPS. This means the frame rate can dip below the 60 FPS threshold during demanding scenes, even though the average is above it.

The Verdict

The question of whether this PC can run The Technomancer has a conditional answer. According to the verdict data, playable settings are only available at 1920x1080. At this resolution, the Low and Medium presets are marked as playable. The best playable setting is Medium, which achieves an average of 61 FPS. This just clears the 60 FPS playable threshold.

At 2560x1440, the database lists no playable settings. The best average frame rate at this resolution is 52 FPS on the Low preset, which is below the threshold. The Medium preset averages 40 FPS, High averages 34 FPS, and Ultra averages 26 FPS. None of these are suitable for smooth gameplay.

At 3840x2160, the situation is worse. The best average is 28 FPS on Low, with Medium at 22 FPS, High at 19 FPS, and Ultra at 15 FPS. There are no playable settings at this resolution. In summary, this system can run the game, but only at 1080p with lower graphical presets, and even then the frame rate can fluctuate below the 60 FPS target.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the nearest rivals in the database provides context for both components. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X has an average benchmark score of 41376. Its closest competitors include the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H with a score of 41263 and a delta of 0.3%, the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H with a score of 41215 and a delta of 0.4%, and the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 with a score of 41208 and a delta of 0.4%. The Intel Core i7-14650HX is also nearby with a score of 41576, which is -0.5% relative to the 5900X. Any of these CPUs would deliver essentially the same computational performance in this game, meaning the frame rates would be unchanged if the GPU remained the same.

For the Intel Arc B390, the situation is more critical. Its average benchmark score is 1482. The nearest rivals are all significantly older, lower-end NVIDIA parts. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX scores 1463 with a delta of 1.3%, the GeForce 800M scores 1460 with a delta of 1.5%, the GeForce GT 625 OEM scores 1446 with a delta of 2.5%, and the GeForce GT 710 scores 1443 with a delta of 2.7%. These are all in the same performance class as the Arc B390. A system with any of these GPUs paired with a similar CPU would likely produce very similar frame rates in The Technomancer, all struggling to maintain 60 FPS at 1080p.

Best Settings per Resolution

The data allows for a clear recommendation for each resolution based on the most demanding preset that stays at or above the 60 FPS threshold.

At 3840x2160, no preset is playable. The best recorded average is 28 FPS on the Low preset, which is far from the target. There is no recommended setting for this resolution.

At 2560x1440, no preset is playable either. The Low preset averages 52 FPS, which is the closest to the threshold but still below it. There is no recommended setting for this resolution.

At 1920x1080, the recommended setting is Medium. This preset averages 61 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold. The Low preset also works with a higher average of 79 FPS, but the Medium preset provides a better balance of visual quality and performance. The High preset at 52 FPS and the Ultra preset at 40 FPS are not recommended, as they fall below the playable threshold. The Medium preset at 1080p is the only configuration in the entire dataset that delivers a playable experience while also offering higher quality than the minimum settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The combined AMD Ryzen 9 5900X and Intel Arc B390 configuration ranks 3285 out of 3696 tested combinations in The Technomancer. This places it in the lower portion of the database, in roughly the 11th percentile of all tested systems. This low ranking is directly attributable to the GPU. The CPU is a top-tier part, ranking in the 87th percentile among all CPUs, but the integrated GPU holds the entire system back. The ranking reflects the overall gaming performance, and the data shows that this combination is only suitable for 1080p gaming at medium or low settings. The system's position in the rankings is a direct consequence of the disparity between the powerful processor and the entry-level graphics solution.