The Technomancer

The Intel Core i5-14600K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 delivers a robust experience in The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG. Benchmark data shows this combination handles the game decisively at 1440p and 1080p, with all tested presets exceeding the 60 FPS playable threshold. At 4K, performance becomes more selective, with only Low and Medium settings maintaining playable frame rates. The measured FPS data indicates a clear scaling pattern across resolutions, where the GPU's role intensifies as pixel count rises, while the CPU's strong single-thread performance keeps high refresh rates attainable at lower resolutions.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings?

A: The average FPS at 4K Ultra is 41, which falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold. This is the lowest recorded average across all tested settings and resolutions.

Q: Can this PC run The Technomancer at 2560x1440 with maximum settings?

A: Yes. At 1440p Ultra, the combo produces an average of 75 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS threshold. The verdict data confirms all four settings (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) are playable at this resolution.

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

A: The highest average FPS is 223, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This is significantly above the 60 FPS threshold, indicating very high headroom for fast-paced gameplay at 1080p.

Q: How does the RTX 3080 compare to its nearest rival in benchmark scores?

A: The RTX 3080 has an average benchmark score of 23172, while its nearest rival, the NVIDIA P106-100, scores 23249, putting the RTX 3080 at a -0.3% deltaPct. The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16 and AMD Radeon RX 6600M also score 23250 and 23273, respectively, with -0.3% and -0.4% deltas.

Q: What is the best playable setting at 3840x2160?

A: The best playable setting at 4K is Medium, which yields an average of 61 FPS with a minimum of 52 and maximum of 71. Low settings are also playable at 80 FPS average, but Medium offers higher visual quality while staying just above the 60 FPS mark.

Q: Where does this CPU+GPU combo rank among all tested combinations in this game?

A: The combo ranks 1040 out of 3696 tested combinations, placing it in the upper-middle portion of the database. This rank reflects its strong but not top-tier performance in The Technomancer.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU's nearest rivals, based on average benchmark score, include the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H with a score of 48698 and a -0.2% deltaPct, meaning the i5-14600K scores 0.2% lower. The AMD EPYC 4345P scores 48470, which is 0.3% below the i5-14600K. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX scores 48287, a 0.7% difference, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 scores 48995, putting it 0.8% ahead. These processors would deliver nearly identical synthetic performance, though real-world gaming in The Technomancer may vary based on per-core behavior.

For the GPU, the RTX 3080's nearest rivals are a diverse set. The NVIDIA P106-100 scores 23249, just 0.3% higher. The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16 and AMD Radeon RX 6600M score 23250 and 23273, respectively, with -0.3% and -0.4% deltas. The AMD Radeon R9 M290X scores 23276, also -0.4% relative to the RTX 3080. In practice, these GPUs would provide comparable raw compute performance, but the RTX 3080's 10 GB GDDR6X memory and 760.3 GB/s bandwidth may give it an edge in texture-heavy scenes at higher resolutions.

The data suggests that swapping either component for its nearest rival would yield negligible changes in overall system performance. However, the CPU's 90th percentile ranking among all CPUs, versus the GPU's 68th percentile among all GPUs, indicates the processor has more headroom relative to its peers than the graphics card does.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the data shows exceptional performance across all presets. Low settings produce an average of 223 FPS, which is the highest score in the entire dataset. Medium settings average 171 FPS with a minimum of 146 and maximum of 197. High settings average 146 FPS, and even Ultra settings maintain a strong 114 FPS average. Every preset at 1080p more than doubles the 60 FPS threshold, indicating the game is heavily GPU-bound at this resolution or that the CPU's 14 cores and 20 threads are more than sufficient.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance remains excellent but shows expected scaling. Low settings average 146 FPS, a 34.5% drop from 1080p Low. Medium settings average 112 FPS with a minimum of 95 and maximum of 129. High settings average 96 FPS, and Ultra settings maintain a solid 75 FPS average. The minimum FPS at 1440p Medium is 95, which still exceeds the 60 FPS threshold by a comfortable margin, suggesting consistent frame pacing.

At 3840x2160, the performance curve becomes steeper. Low settings average 80 FPS, which is playable but represents a 45.2% reduction from 1440p Low. Medium settings average 61 FPS with a minimum of 52 and maximum of 71, putting the minimum below the playable threshold even though the average clears it. High settings drop to 52 FPS average, and Ultra settings fall to 41 FPS average. The transition from 1440p to 4K at High settings causes a 45.8% FPS loss, highlighting the RTX 3080's limitations at this resolution.

The scaling from Low to Ultra at each resolution follows a consistent pattern. At 1080p, the drop from Low to Ultra is 109 FPS (223 to 114). At 1440p, it's 71 FPS (146 to 75). At 4K, it's 39 FPS (80 to 41). This indicates that the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck as resolution increases, with the CPU's role diminishing.

The Verdict

This PC can run The Technomancer, but the playable settings depend heavily on resolution. At 1920x1080, all four presets—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—are playable, with the best setting being Ultra at an average of 114 FPS. This provides a significant buffer above the 60 FPS threshold, making the game exceptionally smooth at 1080p.

At 2560x1440, the verdict is equally favorable. All four presets are playable, with Ultra settings achieving an average of 75 FPS. This means users can enjoy maximum visual quality at 1440p without sacrificing playability. The minimum FPS at 1440p Medium is 95, which indicates strong frame consistency.

At 3840x2160, the verdict is more restrictive. Only Low and Medium settings are playable, with Medium being the best option at 61 FPS average. However, the minimum FPS at 4K Medium is 52, which dips below the 60 FPS threshold, suggesting occasional stutters in demanding scenes. High and Ultra settings at 4K produce averages of 52 and 41 FPS, respectively, making them unsuitable for smooth gameplay.

The verdict data clearly shows that 1440p is the sweet spot for this combination, offering the full range of settings while maintaining high frame rates. At 4K, users must compromise on visual fidelity to stay playable, and even then, the frame rate is borderline.

CPU and GPU Roles

The measured FPS data reveals how the balance between CPU and GPU shifts across resolutions. At 1080p, the CPU's performance is more influential, as the GPU has ample headroom. The difference between Low and Ultra settings is 109 FPS, which suggests that the CPU's 14 cores and 20 threads can feed the GPU efficiently even at high frame rates. The i5-14600K's single-core score of 2064 in Cinebench R23 and 4270 in Passmark indicates strong per-thread performance, which is critical for maintaining high FPS in games.

At 1440p, the GPU begins to take on a larger role. The FPS drop from 1080p to 1440p at Low settings is 77 FPS (223 to 146), which is a 34.5% reduction. This indicates that the RTX 3080 is starting to become a limiting factor, though the CPU still has enough performance to support the frame rates. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 71 FPS, which is narrower than at 1080p, showing that GPU load is increasing.

At 4K, the GPU is clearly the dominant constraint. The FPS drop from 1440p to 4K at Low settings is 66 FPS (146 to 80), a 45.2% reduction. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K narrows to 39 FPS, indicating that the GPU is saturated and the CPU's performance has less impact. The RTX 3080's 10 GB GDDR6X memory and 320-bit bus width are likely the limiting factors at this resolution, as the game's texture and shading demands increase.

The data patterns suggest that for The Technomancer, the CPU matters most at 1080p where high frame rates are achievable, while the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck at 4K. At 1440p, both components contribute significantly, making it the most balanced resolution for this pairing.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-14600K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 combination ranks 1040 out of 3696 tested combos in The Technomancer. This places it in the 28th percentile of all tested systems, meaning roughly 72% of combinations perform better. Given that the CPU ranks in the 90th percentile among all CPUs and the GPU ranks in the 68th percentile among all GPUs, the combo's overall ranking is lower than either component's individual percentile suggests.

This discrepancy indicates that The Technomancer may be more sensitive to GPU performance than CPU performance, or that other tested combos pair higher-end GPUs with similar CPUs. The rank of 1040 out of 3696 suggests that while this system is capable, it is not at the forefront of performance for this game. Users seeking higher rankings would likely need a more powerful GPU, as the CPU's headroom appears sufficient for this title.

The combo's rank also reflects the game's release date in 2016, which means modern high-end GPUs can significantly outperform the RTX 3080. However, the data shows that this combination still delivers playable frame rates at all tested resolutions with appropriate settings, making it a viable option for The Technomancer.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Medium, which produces an average of 61 FPS. This is the best playable setting at 4K, though the minimum FPS of 52 indicates some frame drops below the threshold. Low settings at 4K average 80 FPS, offering a more stable experience, but Medium provides better visual quality while remaining technically playable.

At 2560x1440, the most demanding preset that maintains 60 FPS is Ultra, with an average of 75 FPS. This allows users to enable maximum graphical fidelity without compromising playability. The minimum FPS at 1440p Medium is 95, indicating that even lower presets offer substantial headroom.

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays above 60 FPS is Ultra, averaging 114 FPS. This provides a significant margin above the threshold, ensuring smooth gameplay even in demanding scenes. The high frame rates at 1080p mean users can enable all visual features without concern.

For users prioritizing visual quality, 1440p Ultra is the recommended configuration, as it offers the best balance of fidelity and performance. At 4K, Medium is the only setting that clears the 60 FPS average, but users should be aware of potential minimum FPS dips. At 1080p, Ultra is the clear choice, delivering high frame rates with maximum settings.