The Technomancer

The Technomancer presents a demanding workload for the Intel Core i7-12700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination. The measured data indicates that this setup is capable of delivering smooth gameplay, but the ceiling varies significantly across resolutions and presets. At 1080p, the system is overwhelmingly capable, while 4K requires substantial compromises to maintain playable frame rates.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU and GPU in this pairing each have close performance counterparts in the benchmark database. For the Intel Core i7-12700K, the nearest rivals are separated by less than half a percent in average benchmark score. The Intel Core i7-12700KF sits 0.2% below the i7-12700K’s score of 35287, while the Intel Core i5-13600T is 0.1% lower. The Intel Core i7-13700T trails by 0.3%, and the Intel Core 5 213PE is 0.4% behind. These results indicate that swapping the i7-12700K for any of these alternatives would produce nearly identical performance in The Technomancer, as the game's frame rates are unlikely to shift by more than a single digit.

On the GPU side, the RTX 4060’s nearest rivals are an unexpected set. The AMD Radeon HD 7790 is 0.2% below the RTX 4060’s average score of 17639, while the AMD Radeon 780M is 0.3% higher. The AMD Radeon Pro 560 and Pro 460 sit 0.5% and 0.7% above respectively. This suggests that for the specific benchmark metrics captured, these GPUs would deliver similar raw performance in The Technomancer. However, the RTX 4060’s modern feature set and driver support may yield different real-world behavior in this 2016 title, even if aggregate scores align closely.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark data reveals how the balance shifts between the i7-12700K and RTX 4060 as resolution and settings change. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves 167.6 FPS average. Dropping to 3840x2160 at Low settings reduces that to 62.8 FPS, a 62.5% decrease. This large drop indicates that the GPU becomes the limiting factor as pixel count rises, since the CPU's workload remains relatively constant across resolutions.

The scaling between presets at each resolution further clarifies the GPU's dominant role. At 2560x1440, moving from Low to Medium reduces average FPS from 111.8 to 84.5, a 24.4% penalty. Going from Medium to High brings the average down to 72.2, another 14.6% reduction. The Ultra preset at 57.2 FPS is 48.8% below the Low preset's performance. These consistent declines across settings suggest that the RTX 4060's shader and memory throughput are the primary constraints, as the i7-12700K's 12 cores and 20 threads provide ample headroom for this game's CPU demands.

The CPU's influence is most apparent when comparing the delta between 1080p and 1440p at the same settings. At Low, the 1080p result of 167.6 FPS drops to 111.8 FPS at 1440p, a 33.3% reduction. At High, the drop from 110.5 to 72.2 FPS represents a 34.7% reduction. This consistent percentage scaling across resolutions points to a GPU-bound scenario, where the RTX 4060’s fill rate and bandwidth dictate performance rather than the CPU's processing capabilities.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured performance data covers three resolutions with four settings each, producing twelve distinct data points. At 1920x1080, the system delivers its strongest results. The Low preset averages 167.6 FPS, while Medium drops to 133.2 FPS. High averages 110.5 FPS, and Ultra remains solidly above the 60 FPS threshold at 83.8 FPS. Every 1080p setting clears the playable threshold with substantial margin.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance remains respectable but the margins narrow. Low averages 111.8 FPS, Medium reaches 84.5 FPS, and High maintains 72.2 FPS. The Ultra preset falls to 57.2 FPS, which sits below the 60 FPS playable threshold. This is the first point in the dataset where the system fails to maintain a consistently smooth experience at the highest quality settings.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 4060's 8 GB memory capacity and 128-bit bus become evident limitations. Low averages 62.8 FPS, which just clears the 60 FPS line. Medium drops to 43.6 FPS, High to 38.4 FPS, and Ultra to 33.6 FPS. The steep decline from Low to Medium (30.6% reduction) indicates that the GPU cannot sustain the higher texture and shading workloads at 4K without significant frame rate sacrifices.

The Verdict

This PC can run The Technomancer, but the experience depends entirely on the chosen resolution and settings. At 1920x1080, all four presets achieve average frame rates above 60 FPS, making this the only resolution where Ultra quality is playable. The 1080p Ultra average of 83.8 FPS provides a comfortable margin over the playable threshold of 60 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the system maintains playability through High settings, with the High preset averaging 72.2 FPS. The Medium preset at 84.5 FPS offers even more headroom, while Low reaches 111.8 FPS for maximum smoothness. However, the Ultra preset at 57.2 FPS falls short of the 60 FPS threshold, meaning players who want the highest quality at 1440p must accept slightly reduced frame rates.

At 3840x2160, only the Low preset clears 60 FPS, averaging 62.8 FPS. This is a narrow margin, and any scene with heavy effects could dip below the threshold. Medium, High, and Ultra are all unplayable by the 60 FPS standard, with averages ranging from 33.6 to 43.6 FPS. For 4K gaming, the system requires reduced settings and even then operates close to the boundary of playability.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the i7-12700K and RTX 4060 ranks 1982 out of 3696 tested combinations in The Technomancer. This places the setup in the 46.4th percentile of all tested systems, meaning just over half of the tested combos perform better. The rank reflects the RTX 4060's position as a mid-range GPU rather than a high-end part, as the i7-12700K's strong CPU benchmarks do not compensate for the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions.

The rank is consistent with the measured frame rates. At 1080p, the system performs admirably, but the 4K results drag the overall ranking down. The percentile positioning suggests that many other combinations with higher-tier GPUs or more VRAM would outperform this setup in the most demanding scenarios, even if the i7-12700K provides a solid foundation.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest preset that maintains 60 FPS at 1920x1080?

A: The Ultra preset averages 83.8 FPS at 1080p, which is well above the 60 FPS playable threshold. This is the most demanding setting that remains playable at this resolution.

Q: Can this system handle 2560x1440 with Ultra settings?

A: No, the Ultra preset at 1440p averages 57.2 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS threshold. High settings at 72.2 FPS is the highest playable preset at this resolution.

Q: Is 4K gaming possible with this hardware?

A: Yes, but only with Low settings, which average 62.8 FPS at 3840x2160. Medium, High, and Ultra presets all fall below 60 FPS, with averages of 43.6, 38.4, and 33.6 FPS respectively.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from 1080p to 1440p?

A: At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 167.6 at 1080p to 111.8 at 1440p, a 33.3% reduction. At High settings, the drop is from 110.5 to 72.2 FPS, a 34.7% reduction.

Q: How does the RTX 4060 compare to its nearest rivals in this benchmark?

A: The RTX 4060's average benchmark score of 17639 is 0.2% above the AMD Radeon HD 7790, 0.3% below the AMD Radeon 780M, and 0.5% and 0.7% below the AMD Radeon Pro 560 and Pro 460 respectively.

Q: What is the system's overall rank among tested combinations?

A: This CPU and GPU combination ranks 1982 out of 3696 tested combinations in The Technomancer, placing it in the 46.4th percentile of all tested systems.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the best choice, delivering an average of 83.8 FPS. This setting provides the highest visual quality while maintaining a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold.

At 2560x1440, the High preset is the optimal balance, averaging 72.2 FPS. This provides solid visual quality with a 12.2 FPS margin over the playable threshold. The Medium preset offers higher frame rates at 84.5 FPS for players who prioritize smoothness over visual fidelity.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset is the only playable option, averaging 62.8 FPS. This is the most demanding setting that stays at or above 60 FPS, but the margin is slim. Players seeking 4K performance must accept reduced visual quality to maintain playable frame rates.