The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 action RPG, presents a demanding workload for this particular hardware pairing. The recorded data for the Intel Core i7-13700K and Intel Arc B390 combination shows a clear performance ceiling, with playable frame rates only achievable at lower resolutions and settings. The benchmark results indicate that the graphics processor is the primary limiting factor across all tested configurations, as the system's frame rates scale dramatically with resolution changes, a classic symptom of GPU-bound rendering.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The performance data for The Technomancer was captured across three resolutions and four graphics presets, revealing a consistent pattern of frame rate degradation as visual fidelity increases. At 3840x2160, the highest resolution tested, the system's performance is severely constrained. The Ultra preset delivers an average frame rate of 15 FPS, which is far below the playable threshold. High settings improve this to 19 FPS on average, while Medium settings yield 22 FPS with minimum and maximum readings of 19 and 25 FPS respectively. Low settings provide the best 4K result at 28 FPS average, yet this still falls significantly short of the 60 FPS target. These numbers demonstrate that 4K gaming with this combination is not viable for smooth gameplay, as even the lowest preset cannot approach the playable threshold.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance improves noticeably but remains insufficient for a consistent 60 FPS experience. The Ultra preset records an average of 26 FPS, while High settings reach 34 FPS. Medium settings produce 40 FPS on average, with minimum and maximum values of 34 and 46 FPS. Low settings deliver the strongest 1440p result at 52 FPS average, yet this still leaves an 8 FPS gap to the 60 FPS playable threshold. The data shows that even the most aggressive graphical reduction at this resolution cannot push the system over the line, making 1440p a non-playable option for users who require smooth performance.

At 1920x1080, the system finally approaches playable territory, though only at specific presets. Ultra settings average 40 FPS, and High settings reach 52 FPS. Medium settings achieve 61 FPS on average, with minimum and maximum readings of 52 and 70 FPS, clearing the 60 FPS threshold by a narrow margin. Low settings deliver the highest frame rates in the entire test suite at 79 FPS average, comfortably exceeding the playable threshold. The recorded data indicates that 1080p is the only resolution where this hardware combination can provide a satisfactory experience, and only when settings are kept at Medium or below.

The frame rate progression across resolutions follows a clear pattern. From 1080p Low at 79 FPS to 1440p Low at 52 FPS, the average frame rate drops by 34.2 percent. Similarly, 1080p Medium at 61 FPS falls to 1440p Medium at 40 FPS, a reduction of 34.4 percent. The same relationship holds at High settings, with 52 FPS at 1080p dropping to 34 FPS at 1440p, a 34.6 percent decrease. This consistent scaling factor strongly suggests that the rendering pipeline is limited by the GPU's pixel throughput and shading capabilities, not by the CPU's processing power.

Best Settings per Resolution

The playable threshold for this database is defined at 60 FPS, and the verdict by resolution provides clear guidance on which configurations meet that standard. At 3840x2160, no settings preset achieves the target. The recorded playable settings list is empty, and the best settings field is null, indicating that no configuration at this resolution can sustain 60 FPS. The highest average frame rate at 4K comes from Low settings at 28 FPS, which represents only 46.7 percent of the required performance.

At 2560x1440, the situation is identical. The playable settings list is empty, and no preset reaches the 60 FPS mark. Low settings provide the best average at 52 FPS, which is 86.7 percent of the target, but this is still insufficient. The data shows that 1440p gaming with this combination is not possible at any quality level, regardless of how much graphical detail is sacrificed.

The 1920x1080 resolution is the only one where the playable threshold is cleared. The verdict by resolution identifies Low and Medium as playable settings, with Medium designated as the best settings at 61 FPS average. This makes Medium the most demanding preset that maintains an average frame rate at or above 60 FPS. Low settings also qualify at 79 FPS, providing additional headroom, but Medium offers the best balance of visual quality and performance within the playable envelope. High and Ultra settings at 1080p fall short, with 52 FPS and 40 FPS averages respectively, leaving them outside the playable range.

For users who prioritize frame rate stability, the minimum FPS reading at 1080p Medium is 52 FPS, which dips below the 60 FPS threshold during demanding scenes. This means that while the average is playable, there will be intermittent frame rate drops. Low settings at 1080p, with a 79 FPS average, would provide a more consistent experience, although the database does not record minimum and maximum values for that preset. The choice between Medium and Low at 1080p ultimately depends on whether the user prefers higher visual fidelity with occasional dips or lower fidelity with a more stable frame rate.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance characteristics of this system in The Technomancer point decisively toward the GPU as the dominant bottleneck. The Intel Core i7-13700K is a high-end desktop processor with 16 cores, 24 threads, and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. Its benchmark scores are substantial, including a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 30745 and a single-core score of 2116. The GPU, an Intel Arc B390, is an integrated graphics solution based on the Xe3-LPG architecture with 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster output units. Its only recorded benchmark, 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, yields a score of 1482, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs.

The frame rate scaling between resolutions provides the clearest evidence of GPU limitation. When moving from 1080p to 1440p, the average frame rates drop by approximately 34 percent across all presets. This resolution scaling is characteristic of a system where the GPU's pixel fill rate and shading capacity are the limiting factors. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rates would remain relatively constant across resolutions, since the CPU workload does not change significantly with resolution. The observed data contradicts that scenario, confirming the GPU's dominant role.

The CPU's capability is further demonstrated by its benchmark results relative to the game's demands. The Technomancer is a 2016 title with modest thread requirements, and the i7-13700K provides far more processing power than needed. The GPU, conversely, is an integrated part with 7.680 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, which is modest for modern gaming. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 79 FPS, but this drops to 52 FPS at 1440p Low and 28 FPS at 4K Low. The GPU's scaling from 1080p to 4K represents a 64.6 percent reduction in frame rate, which aligns with the increased pixel workload of 4K versus 1080p.

At higher presets, the GPU's limitations become even more pronounced. At 4K Ultra, the system averages 15 FPS, while at 1080p Ultra it averages 40 FPS. This 62.5 percent reduction is consistent with the GPU being overwhelmed by the combined demands of resolution and graphical complexity. The CPU's role at these settings is minimal, as it can easily feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic. The recorded data shows no evidence of CPU-bound behavior, such as frame rates plateauing across resolutions or presets.

The process node difference between the components is notable. The CPU is built on a 10 nm Intel process, while the GPU uses a 3 nm process, indicating different design priorities. The GPU's 80 W TDP and system shared memory configuration further reinforce its integrated nature, which limits its bandwidth to system dependent levels. This memory configuration is a significant constraint for a game like The Technomancer, which benefits from dedicated video memory bandwidth.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run The Technomancer at 60 FPS?

A: Yes, but only at 1920x1080 resolution with Low or Medium settings. At 1080p Medium, the average frame rate is 61 FPS, and at Low it is 79 FPS. Higher resolutions do not meet the 60 FPS threshold at any setting.

Q: What is the best playable setting at 1080p?

A: Medium is the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS, with an average of 61 FPS. The minimum recorded frame rate at Medium is 52 FPS, so occasional dips below 60 are possible.

Q: Why does the system perform so poorly at 4K?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor. The Intel Arc B390 has an average 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1482, ranking in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. At 3840x2160, even Low settings only achieve 28 FPS average.

Q: Is the CPU powerful enough for this game?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i7-13700K is far more capable than required. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 30745 and single-core score of 2116 indicate ample processing power. The frame rate scaling across resolutions confirms that the GPU, not the CPU, is the bottleneck.

Q: What frame rates can I expect at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, no preset reaches 60 FPS. Low settings average 52 FPS, Medium averages 40 FPS, High averages 34 FPS, and Ultra averages 26 FPS. All of these are below the playable threshold.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Arc B390's 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1482 is 1.3 percent higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, 1.5 percent higher than the GeForce 800M, 2.5 percent higher than the GT 625 OEM, and 2.7 percent higher than the GT 710.

The Verdict

The recorded data provides a clear answer: this PC can run The Technomancer, but only under specific conditions. The verdict by resolution shows that 3840x2160 and 2560x1440 have no playable settings, meaning no preset at those resolutions achieves an average frame rate of 60 FPS or higher. At 4K, the best case is Low settings at 28 FPS, and at 1440p, Low settings at 52 FPS. Neither comes close to the playable threshold.

At 1920x1080, the system clears the 60 FPS bar with Low and Medium settings. Medium is the best playable preset, averaging 61 FPS, which is just above the threshold. Low settings provide 79 FPS, offering more headroom for frame rate stability. High and Ultra settings at 1080p are not playable, with averages of 52 FPS and 40 FPS respectively.

The overall ranking in the database is 3285 out of 3696 tested combos, placing this system in the lower portion of results. This ranking reflects the GPU's limited performance relative to other tested hardware. For users who want to play The Technomancer smoothly, this system requires 1080p resolution and reduced settings. Those who demand 1440p or 4K gaming will need more powerful graphics hardware, as the current GPU cannot deliver the necessary frame rates at those resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i7-13700K and Intel Arc B390 ranks 3285 out of 3696 tested combinations for The Technomancer. This places the system in the 11th percentile of all tested combos, indicating that the vast majority of other hardware configurations outperform it in this game. The CPU itself is highly capable, ranking in the 89th percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 46881. The GPU, however, ranks in the 9th percentile of all GPUs with an average score of 1482, which drags the overall combination down.

The disparity between the CPU and GPU performance is striking. The i7-13700K's nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 9 5900, have an average score of 46971, a delta of negative 0.2 percent, meaning the Intel chip is essentially on par with these competitors. The GPU's nearest rivals are much weaker, with the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX scoring 1463, which is 1.3 percent lower than the Arc B390. This contrast underscores the imbalance in this pairing: a top-tier processor matched with a low-end graphics solution.

The low ranking is entirely attributable to the GPU. If the same CPU were paired with a more capable graphics card, the system's rank in this game would improve substantially. As configured, the system is suited for CPU-intensive tasks but not for demanding gaming at high resolutions. The data shows that this combo is best reserved for 1080p gaming with medium settings, where it can deliver playable frame rates.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The database includes information on hardware that performs at a similar level to both components in this system. For the CPU, the nearest rivals to the Intel Core i7-13700K are all within 0.5 percent of its average benchmark score. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900 scores 46971, a delta of negative 0.2 percent, making it statistically indistinguishable from the Intel chip. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375 scores 47022, negative 0.3 percent, and the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX scores 46654, positive 0.5 percent. The Intel Xeon w3-2535 also scores 46653, positive 0.5 percent. Any of these CPUs would deliver essentially identical performance in The Technomancer, since the game is GPU-bound and none of these processors would become a bottleneck.

For the GPU, the nearest rivals are all significantly weaker than the Arc B390, but the deltas are small. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX scores 1463, which is 1.3 percent lower. The GeForce 800M scores 1460, 1.5 percent lower. The GT 625 OEM scores 1446, 2.5 percent lower, and the GT 710 scores 1443, 2.7 percent lower. These GPUs would produce frame rates within a few percentage points of the Arc B390, meaning users with any of these alternatives would experience nearly identical performance in The Technomancer. All of them would fail to reach 60 FPS at 1440p and would only achieve playable frame rates at 1080p with low or medium settings.

The practical takeaway from these comparisons is that the system's performance is dictated almost entirely by the GPU tier. Users who find the current frame rates acceptable at 1080p Medium could expect similar results with any of the rival GPUs listed. Conversely, upgrading to a significantly more powerful GPU would be the only way to unlock 1440p or 4K playability, as the CPU has ample headroom to support such a change. The data confirms that this combo is a 1080p medium-settings machine, and any expectation beyond that would require different hardware.