The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting test for the Intel Core i5-12400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 combination. The measured data reveals a system that is capable at mainstream resolutions but begins to show its limits at 4K. The benchmark results indicate a clear tiering of performance that scales predictably with resolution and preset level, offering a definitive picture of what this hardware can deliver.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete matrix of performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the combination is exceptionally fast, with every preset delivering well above the 60 FPS playable threshold. The Low preset produces an average of 193.6 FPS, which drops to 149.8 FPS at Medium, 129.0 FPS at High, and 99.4 FPS at Ultra. The spread between Low and Ultra is substantial, representing a 94.2 FPS difference, but even at the most demanding settings, the frame rate remains high enough for smooth gameplay on high-refresh-rate displays.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong, though the impact of the increased pixel count is evident. The Low preset yields an average of 126.9 FPS, while Medium drops to 96.9 FPS and High to 81.1 FPS. The Ultra preset, the most demanding option, still manages an average of 66.2 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS threshold by a small margin. This resolution demonstrates that the RTX 3070 has sufficient headroom to handle high settings, but the Ultra preset is operating near its performance ceiling.

At 3840x2160, the situation changes dramatically. The Ultra preset averages just 37.2 FPS, making it unplayable by the 60 FPS standard. High settings fare better at 47.8 FPS, but this is still below the playable threshold. The Medium preset reaches 54.2 FPS, narrowly missing the 60 FPS target. Only the Low preset, with an average of 66.3 FPS, provides a playable experience at 4K. The data shows a clear pattern: 4K requires a significant reduction in graphical fidelity to maintain playable frame rates with this hardware.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run The Technomancer at 60 FPS on Ultra settings?

A: Yes, at both 1920x1080 and 2560x1440. The measured average FPS is 99.4 at 1080p and 66.2 at 1440p on the Ultra preset. At 3840x2160, however, the Ultra preset only achieves an average of 37.2 FPS, which is not playable.

Q: What is the best playable setting at 4K resolution?

A: The Low preset is the only option that clears the 60 FPS playable threshold at 3840x2160, with an average of 66.3 FPS. The Medium preset falls short at 54.2 FPS, and High is even lower at 47.8 FPS.

Q: How does the performance scale from 1080p to 1440p?

A: The scaling is consistent across presets. For example, the Ultra preset drops from 99.4 FPS at 1920x1080 to 66.2 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of roughly 33%. The Low preset shows a similar pattern, dropping from 193.6 FPS to 126.9 FPS.

Q: Is the RTX 3070 the limiting factor at 4K resolution?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the primary constraint at 3840x2160. The frame rate drops sharply as resolution increases, with even the Medium preset failing to reach 60 FPS. This indicates the pixel throughput demand exceeds what the GPU can deliver at higher quality settings.

Q: What performance increase does lowering settings from High to Low provide at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the High preset averages 81.1 FPS, while the Low preset averages 126.9 FPS. This represents a 45.8 FPS improvement, or about a 56% increase in frame rate, for users willing to sacrifice visual quality.

Q: Does the 1080p Ultra preset leave headroom for higher refresh rates?

A: Yes. The average of 99.4 FPS at 1920x1080 on Ultra exceeds the 60 FPS threshold by a significant margin, indicating the hardware can drive displays with refresh rates above 60Hz at this resolution and preset.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-12400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 combination holds a rank of 1532 out of 3696 tested combos for The Technomancer. This places the system in the upper half of all tested configurations, specifically in the 41st percentile. The ranking reflects the measured performance across all resolutions and presets, showing that while this is not a top-tier setup for the game, it is far from a weak one.

The rank suggests that a substantial number of tested combinations deliver higher average frame rates, likely including systems with more powerful GPUs or newer CPU architectures. However, the percentile position also indicates that this combo outperforms the majority of tested hardware. The data positions the system as a solid mid-to-upper-range performer, capable of handling the game at high settings on common resolutions, but not necessarily a leader in extreme 4K scenarios.

The Verdict

The verdict by resolution is clear. At 1920x1080, this PC runs The Technomancer exceptionally well, with all four presets—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—clearing the 60 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset achieves an average of 99.4 FPS, making it the recommended choice for maximum visual quality without any concern for playability.

At 2560x1440, the system remains fully playable across all settings. The Ultra preset, with an average of 66.2 FPS, just barely clears the 60 FPS bar, while High and Medium provide more comfortable margins at 81.1 and 96.9 FPS respectively. The Low preset reaches 126.9 FPS for those prioritizing frame rate above all else.

At 3840x2160, the verdict is more restrictive. Only the Low preset, averaging 66.3 FPS, is playable. Medium (54.2 FPS), High (47.8 FPS), and Ultra (37.2 FPS) all fall short of the 60 FPS target. This PC can run the game at 4K, but only with significant compromises to graphical fidelity.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance data reveals how the CPU and GPU roles shift depending on resolution. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are extremely high, with the Low preset reaching 193.6 FPS. Such high numbers often suggest that the CPU is playing a more significant role in determining the maximum frame rate, as the GPU has less pixel work to do. The fact that the Ultra preset still delivers 99.4 FPS shows the GPU is capable, but the CPU’s 6 cores and 12 threads are likely keeping up with the game’s logic and draw calls without becoming a bottleneck.

At 2560x1440, the balance shifts toward the GPU. The increased resolution adds pixel workload, and the frame rates drop accordingly. The Ultra preset at 66.2 FPS is close to the 60 FPS threshold, indicating the GPU is now the primary constraint. The CPU still has enough headroom to feed the GPU, as evidenced by the High preset reaching 81.1 FPS, but the GPU’s rendering limits are becoming apparent.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is unequivocally the dominant factor. The frame rates across all presets are heavily compressed, with a difference of only 29.1 FPS between Low (66.3) and Ultra (37.2). This compression shows that the GPU’s pixel processing power is the sole limiting factor at 4K. The CPU’s role diminishes to that of a supporting actor, as it is clearly not the bottleneck at this resolution. The data indicates that upgrading the GPU would yield the most significant performance gains at 4K, while the CPU would remain sufficient.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 1920x1080, the best setting is Ultra, which delivers an average of 99.4 FPS. This preset provides the highest visual quality while maintaining a frame rate well above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset is also the best choice, with an average of 66.2 FPS. This clears the 60 FPS target, though by a narrower margin than at 1080p. Users seeking a larger frame rate buffer could opt for High at 81.1 FPS, but Ultra remains viable.

For 3840x2160, the only preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Low, which averages 66.3 FPS. This is the most demanding preset that meets the playable threshold at 4K. The Medium preset falls short at 54.2 FPS, so it is not recommended for a smooth experience.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the nearest rivals for the CPU, the Intel Core i5-12400’s average benchmark score of 18683 is closely matched by several other processors. The AMD EPYC 7643 scores 18697, a delta of -0.1%, making it essentially identical in overall benchmark performance. The Intel Core i7-1355U scores 18730, just 0.3% higher, and the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 scores 18811, 0.7% higher. On the other side, the Intel Core i3-14100F scores 18519, which is 0.9% lower. These processors would deliver comparable CPU-bound performance in The Technomancer, though the EPYC 7643 is a server-class chip with different characteristics.

For the GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070’s average benchmark score of 17208 is closely aligned with several alternatives. The AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT scores 17083, a delta of 0.7% lower, meaning the RTX 3070 is slightly faster. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 scores 17037, 1.0% lower, and the AMD Radeon HD 7970M scores 17019, 1.1% lower. The NVIDIA Tesla K40c scores 17468, which is 1.5% higher. These GPUs would produce very similar frame rates in The Technomancer, with the Tesla K40c potentially offering a marginal performance edge. The data suggests that swapping the RTX 3070 for any of these rivals would result in a nearly identical gaming experience, with differences well within the margin of error for typical benchmark variation.