The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting case study for a modern high-end pairing. The combination of the Intel Core i5-14400F and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 produces a dataset that reveals a game that is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions but becomes increasingly CPU-sensitive as resolution drops. The measured FPS across the board is exceptionally high, indicating that this system does not merely run the game but dominates it, though the performance curve offers insights into the balance between the two components.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the performance is staggering. On the Low preset, the combo achieves an average of 267 FPS. Moving to Medium drops the average to 242 FPS, with a recorded minimum of 206 FPS and a maximum of 279 FPS. The High preset still delivers an average of 221 FPS, while the most demanding Ultra preset maintains an average of 173 FPS. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the system is so far beyond the game's requirements that even the highest settings leave massive headroom.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates remain incredibly high but begin to show the expected scaling. The Low preset averages 220 FPS. Medium sees an average of 169 FPS, with a minimum of 144 FPS and a maximum of 195 FPS. The High preset produces 144 FPS on average, and Ultra delivers a robust 113 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is substantial, but the system still clears the 60 FPS threshold by a wide margin at every setting.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the load on the GPU becomes apparent, and the numbers are more grounded, though still impressive. The Low preset averages 121 FPS. Medium averages 93 FPS, with a minimum of 79 FPS and a maximum of 107 FPS. The High preset maintains an average of 79 FPS. Finally, the Ultra preset, which is the most demanding scenario in this dataset, still produces an average of 62 FPS. This is the only configuration where the average dips close to the playable threshold, though it still stays above it.

How This Combo Ranks

The benchmark data places this specific combination of CPU and GPU at rank 115 out of 3696 tested combos for this game. This percentile placement within the top few percent of all tested hardware configurations underscores the sheer performance on offer. The data suggests that this system is not just playable but is positioned to deliver a top-tier experience relative to the vast majority of other systems that have been benchmarked.

This high ranking is a direct consequence of the individual component strengths. The RTX 5090 sits in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs, while the i5-14400F is in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs. When combined, their synergy pushes the system to a rank that is higher than either component's individual standing, indicating that for this specific title, the pairing works exceptionally well without a significant bottleneck at any tested setting.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data shows a clear shift in system bottleneck depending on the resolution. At 1920x1080, the GPU is often considered the limiting factor in modern systems, but here, the sheer power of the RTX 5090 means that the CPU's role becomes more prominent. This is evidenced by the relatively smaller frame rate drop when moving from Low (267 FPS) to Ultra (173 FPS) at 1080p, a 94 FPS difference. The CPU is likely maxing out its ability to feed the GPU frames, preventing the GPU from reaching its full potential even at higher settings.

As the resolution increases to 2560x1440, the GPU's workload grows, and the frame rates scale down accordingly. The difference between Low (220 FPS) and Ultra (113 FPS) is 107 FPS, a larger gap than at 1080p. This widening gap indicates that the GPU is starting to become the more significant factor, as its rendering load increases with pixel count. The CPU is still capable of keeping up, but the GPU's performance ceiling is now the primary constraint on the final frame rate.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's dominance is absolute. The RTX 5090 is working at its hardest, and the frame rate differences between presets become the most pronounced. The gap between Low (121 FPS) and Ultra (62 FPS) is 59 FPS. Here, the CPU's role is diminished; it has no trouble keeping up with the GPU's rendering pace. The data indicates that the game becomes almost purely GPU-bound at 4K, with the CPU providing ample headroom to avoid becoming a limiting factor.

The Verdict

Can this PC run The Technomancer? The answer is an unequivocal yes across all tested configurations. The data shows that this system clears the 60 FPS playable threshold at every resolution and preset combination.

At 1920x1080, the system is overkill, with the lowest average being 173 FPS on Ultra. At 2560x1440, the experience is similarly exceptional, with the Ultra preset averaging 113 FPS. Even at the demanding 3840x2160 resolution, the system maintains playability on all presets. The Ultra preset at 4K averages 62 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold, though it is the closest call in the entire dataset. For gamers prioritizing maximum visual fidelity at 4K, the Ultra preset is viable, but for those who prefer a larger margin for error, the High preset at 79 FPS offers a more comfortable buffer. In short, this hardware combination provides a flawless, high-refresh-rate experience at 1080p and 1440p, and a solid 4K experience.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, benchmark scores show the Intel Core i5-14400F is closely matched with several other processors. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U is a near-identical performer, with a negligible performance delta of 0.1%. The Intel Core i9-11900 is also essentially tied, showing a 0.2% difference. On the other side, the AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS is marginally ahead at -0.2% (meaning the i5 is slightly slower), and the Intel Core i7-12800H is 0.5% behind the i5. In practical terms for this game, any of these CPUs would deliver virtually indistinguishable frame rates, meaning the choice between them would not impact the user experience in The Technomancer.

For the GPU, the nearest rivals to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 are quite different in nature. The NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB shows a 0.3% performance delta, and the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 12 GB is 0.6% different. The AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT is 1.1% behind, while the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64X is 1.4% ahead. These are primarily workstation or mobile parts, but their benchmark scores indicate they would provide a similar level of raw performance in this game, though the RTX 5090's specific feature set and drivers are tailored for consumer gaming.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average FPS achievable with this CPU and GPU combo?

A: The highest average FPS in the dataset is 267 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 with the Low preset.

Q: Can this system handle the game at 4K with the highest settings?

A: Yes. At 3840x2160 with the Ultra preset, the system averages 62 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: Is the game more demanding on the CPU or GPU at 1440p?

A: The data shows a widening performance gap between presets at 2560x1440 compared to 1080p, indicating that the GPU becomes the more significant factor as resolution increases.

Q: What is the lowest average FPS recorded across all tested settings?

A: The lowest average FPS is 62, which occurs at 3840x2160 on the Ultra preset. This is still above the playable threshold.

Q: How does this system rank compared to other tested configurations?

A: It ranks 115th out of 3696 tested combos, placing it in the top few percent of all systems benchmarked for this game.

Q: At which resolution does the system have the most headroom above the 60 FPS target?

A: At 1920x1080, the system has the most headroom. Even on the most demanding Ultra preset, it averages 173 FPS, which is nearly three times the playable threshold.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, which achieves an average of 173 FPS. The system has so much performance in reserve that maximum settings are not a challenge.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset is again the best choice, delivering an average of 113 FPS. This provides a high-refresh-rate experience with all visual features enabled.

At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset is technically playable with an average of 62 FPS. However, for a more stable experience with greater headroom, the High preset, which averages 79 FPS, is the most demanding setting that maintains a more comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold.