The Technomancer

This analysis evaluates the Intel Core i5-12400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 combination for playing The Technomancer, based exclusively on measured benchmark data. The verdict is clear: this system delivers a playable experience at all tested resolutions, with the only limitation being the Ultra preset at 4K. The data indicates a strong pairing where the GPU becomes the primary performance driver as resolution increases, while the CPU provides ample headroom even at 1080p.

FAQ

Q: What is the best playable settings preset for 4K resolution?

A: The Medium preset is the best playable option at 3840x2160, delivering an average of 64.1 FPS. The Ultra preset falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold at 41.7 FPS, while Low achieves 83.1 FPS and High reaches 52.5 FPS.

Q: Does the system maintain 60 FPS at 1440p with all settings?

A: Yes. At 2560x1440, all four tested presets—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—produce average frame rates above 60 FPS. The lowest performer is Ultra at 77.7 FPS, while Low reaches 152.1 FPS.

Q: Which component is more critical when playing at 4K resolution?

A: The GPU becomes the limiting factor at 3840x2160. The performance drop from Low (83.1 FPS) to Ultra (41.7 FPS) represents a 41.7 FPS reduction, indicating that the RTX 4070's workload scales heavily with visual settings at this resolution, whereas the CPU's role diminishes.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in general benchmark performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400 has an average benchmark score of 18683, placing it in the 72nd percentile among all CPUs. Its closest rival, the AMD EPYC 7643, scores 18697, a negligible 0.1% difference. The Intel Core i3-14100F trails by 0.9% with a score of 18519.

Q: What is the GPU's ranking relative to all tested graphics cards?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 sits in the 81st percentile among all GPUs with an average benchmark score of 37648. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA Tesla P4, scores 37628, which is just 0.1% lower, while the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 is 0.4% behind at 37507.

Q: Is the Ultra preset at 1080p a viable option for high refresh rate displays?

A: Yes, the Ultra preset at 1920x1080 yields an average of 119.9 FPS. This comfortably exceeds the 60 FPS playable threshold and provides sufficient headroom for displays with refresh rates above 60 Hz.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals a clear shift in component responsibility depending on the target resolution. At 1920x1080, the CPU and GPU work in balance, but the GPU's influence grows as resolution increases. The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 1440p is relatively modest across presets. For instance, the Ultra preset drops from 119.9 FPS at 1080p to 77.7 FPS at 1440p, a reduction of 42.2 FPS. This indicates that the RTX 4070 still has substantial headroom at 1440p, and the CPU is not yet a bottleneck.

The transition from 1440p to 4K tells a different story. The Ultra preset falls from 77.7 FPS to 41.7 FPS at 3840x2160, a dramatic 36 FPS decline. Similarly, the High preset drops from 99.8 FPS to 52.5 FPS, a 47.3 FPS reduction. This steep scaling demonstrates that the GPU is the dominant factor at 4K, as the pixel throughput demands overwhelm the RTX 4070's capabilities at higher settings. The CPU's role becomes secondary, as even the Low preset at 4K (83.1 FPS) is far above the playable threshold, suggesting the i5-12400 maintains sufficient frame delivery.

Comparing settings within each resolution further illustrates the GPU's importance. At 4K, the spread between Low and Ultra is 41.4 FPS (83.1 to 41.7). At 1440p, the same spread is 74.4 FPS (152.1 to 77.7). At 1080p, the spread is 110.4 FPS (230.3 to 119.9). The shrinking delta as resolution increases confirms that the GPU is increasingly the performance limiter, while the CPU's contribution becomes relatively less significant.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the Medium preset is the most demanding configuration that maintains an average of 64.1 FPS, just above the 60 FPS playable threshold. The High preset falls short at 52.5 FPS, and Ultra is not viable at 41.7 FPS. Low is playable at 83.1 FPS but sacrifices visual fidelity unnecessarily given the Medium result.

For 2560x1440, the Ultra preset is fully playable with an average of 77.7 FPS. This is the highest quality option available and clears the 60 FPS threshold with a 17.7 FPS margin. All lower presets also exceed 60 FPS, but Ultra provides the best visual experience without compromising frame rate.

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset achieves an average of 119.9 FPS. This is nearly double the playable threshold and offers the maximum visual quality. The Medium preset reaches 180.6 FPS and Low reaches 230.3 FPS, but these higher frame rates come with reduced visual settings that are unnecessary given the Ultra result.

The Verdict

This PC combination can run The Technomancer with consistent playability across all tested resolutions. The verdict by resolution is definitive: at 1920x1080, all presets—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—are playable, with the best settings being Ultra at 119.9 FPS. At 2560x1440, the same four presets are playable, and Ultra delivers 77.7 FPS. At 3840x2160, only Low and Medium are playable, with Medium being the best at 64.1 FPS.

The system's performance ceiling is at 4K Ultra, which falls short at 41.7 FPS, and 4K High, which reaches 52.5 FPS. However, for users prioritizing frame rate over maximum graphical fidelity, the Medium preset at 4K offers a smooth experience. The data confirms that this is a capable gaming system for The Technomancer, with the primary trade-off occurring only at the highest resolution and settings combination.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the measured average frame rates are as follows: Low preset delivers 83.1 FPS, Medium achieves 64.1 FPS, High reaches 52.5 FPS, and Ultra produces 41.7 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a consistent decline of roughly 10-12 FPS per step, with the largest single drop occurring between Medium and High at 11.6 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the results are significantly higher: Low reaches 152.1 FPS, Medium achieves 117.5 FPS, High delivers 99.8 FPS, and Ultra produces 77.7 FPS. The scaling is steeper here, with a 34.6 FPS difference between Low and Medium, followed by a 17.7 FPS drop to High and a 22.1 FPS drop to Ultra.

At 1920x1080, the frame rates are the highest of all tested resolutions: Low achieves 230.3 FPS, Medium reaches 180.6 FPS, High delivers 153.5 FPS, and Ultra produces 119.9 FPS. The relative performance gaps are similar to 1440p, with the difference between Low and Ultra totaling 110.4 FPS. Notably, the minimum and maximum frame rates were not recorded in the data, so only average figures are available for analysis.

The overall pattern shows that the RTX 4070 provides diminishing returns as resolution increases. At 1080p, even the Ultra preset offers a frame rate above 120 FPS, making the GPU the clear performance driver. At 4K, the GPU becomes the bottleneck for higher settings, but the CPU's capability ensures that even Low settings maintain a smooth experience.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-12400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 combination ranks 914th out of 3696 tested combos for The Technomancer. This places the system in the top 24.7% of all configurations tested, indicating a strong overall performance level. The rank is particularly notable given the game's release date in 2016, as the hardware significantly outpaces the typical requirements for the era.

The CPU's individual standing reinforces this assessment. The i5-12400 has an average benchmark score of 18683, placing it in the 72nd percentile among all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD EPYC 7643, scores 18697 with a delta of -0.1%, meaning the i5-12400 is effectively tied with a server-class processor. The Intel Core i7-1355U scores 18730, a 0.3% difference, while the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 scores 18811, a 0.7% gap. The Intel Core i3-14100F trails at 18519, a 0.9% deficit.

The GPU's ranking is equally strong. The RTX 4070 has an average benchmark score of 37648, placing it in the 81st percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA Tesla P4, scores 37628 with a delta of 0.1%, while the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 scores 37507 with a 0.4% difference. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile scores 38135, a 1.3% lead, and the AMD Radeon PRO W6400 scores 37157, a 1.3% deficit.

These benchmark results, combined with the measured frame rates, indicate that the i5-12400 and RTX 4070 form a well-balanced pairing for The Technomancer. The CPU's high percentile ranking ensures it does not bottleneck the GPU at any tested resolution, while the GPU's strong standing provides the graphical horsepower needed for smooth gameplay. The combo's rank of 914 out of 3696 reflects this synergy, confirming that the system is more than adequate for the game's demands.