The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a demanding workload that stresses both the processor and the graphics card. This analysis examines the performance of the Intel Core i7-13700K paired with the Intel Arc B580, using measured frame rate data to determine playability across common resolutions. The data indicates a clear performance ceiling at 4K, while 1440p and 1080p offer more flexible options for achieving smooth gameplay.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate this combo achieves in The Technomancer?

A: The highest recorded average frame rate is 135.6 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Can this system run The Technomancer at 60 FPS on Ultra settings at 1920x1080?

A: Yes. The measured average frame rate at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings is 70 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: Is the Intel Arc B580 capable of handling 4K resolution in this game?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the best average frame rate is 48.5 FPS on Low settings. High, Medium, and Ultra settings yield 30.1, 36.7, and 26.8 FPS respectively, all below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: What are the best playable settings at 2560x1440?

A: The data shows that Low and Medium settings are playable at 1440p. Medium provides the highest average frame rate among playable options at 70 FPS.

Q: How does the Intel Core i7-13700K compare to its nearest rival in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The CPU's average benchmark score of 46881 is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 9 5900, which scores 46971, representing a negligible 0.2% difference.

Q: What is the performance delta between the Intel Arc B580 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080?

A: The Arc B580 has an average benchmark score of 23021, which is 0.6% higher than the RTX 2080's score of 22895, indicating near-identical synthetic performance.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Based on synthetic benchmark data, the Intel Core i7-13700K performs almost identically to several other processors. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900 is the closest match, with a delta of only -0.2% in average score. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375 is also a near-identical performer, sitting just 0.3% below the i7-13700K. On the other side, the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX and Intel Xeon w3-2535 both score 0.5% higher, placing them in the same performance tier. For gaming, any of these CPUs would provide a very similar experience in terms of frame pacing and physics calculations.

For the graphics card, the Intel Arc B580's nearest rivals are a mix of older and newer generations. The AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP is effectively a tie, with a 0.2% lower average score. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 is slightly faster at 0.6%, while the RTX 3080 is 0.7% slower in this specific benchmark suite. The NVIDIA P106-100 is also within a 1% delta. These results suggest that in The Technomancer, the Arc B580 should deliver frame rates comparable to these GPUs, with the exact performance depending on driver optimization and game-specific workloads.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at how the Intel Core i7-13700K and Intel Arc B580 handle The Technomancer across different settings. All numbers are average FPS, as minimum and maximum values were not recorded.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain high frame rates. With Low settings, the average is 48.5 FPS. Moving to Medium drops the average to 36.7 FPS. High settings produce 30.1 FPS, and Ultra settings yield the lowest result at 26.8 FPS. None of these configurations reach the 60 FPS target, indicating that 4K is not a viable option for smooth gameplay with this hardware.

At 2560x1440, performance improves significantly. Low settings deliver an average of 90.1 FPS. Medium settings are also very playable, with an average of 70 FPS. High settings fall just short of the 60 FPS threshold, averaging 59.7 FPS. Ultra settings, however, drop to 44.4 FPS, making them unsuitable for a consistent 60 FPS experience.

At 1920x1080, the combo shows its strength. Low settings achieve a high average of 135.6 FPS. Medium settings reach 102.5 FPS. High settings maintain smooth gameplay at 91.8 FPS. Even Ultra settings, which often tank performance, hold an average of 70 FPS, providing a fully playable experience at the highest preset.

The Verdict

The data clearly indicates that this system can run The Technomancer, but playability is heavily dependent on resolution. The 60 FPS threshold is a key benchmark for smooth gameplay.

At 3840x2160, the verdict is that the game is not playable at any preset. All four settings presets—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—produce average frame rates below 60 FPS. The best option, Low, only achieves 48.5 FPS, which will likely result in noticeable stuttering.

At 2560x1440, the system is playable with the right settings. The verdict identifies Low and Medium as playable, with Medium being the best choice, delivering an average of 70 FPS. This allows for a good balance between visual quality and performance.

At 1920x1080, the system is fully playable on all presets. The verdict confirms that High, Low, Medium, and Ultra are all playable. Ultra is the best setting, offering an average of 70 FPS, which provides the highest visual fidelity while maintaining smooth gameplay. This makes 1080p the ideal resolution for this combination.

CPU and GPU Roles

The frame rate data reveals how the balance between CPU and GPU load shifts across resolutions in The Technomancer. At 1080p, the GPU is less stressed, allowing it to push very high frame rates. The scaling from Low to Ultra shows a drop from 135.6 FPS to 70 FPS. This indicates that while the GPU is still the primary bottleneck, the CPU has enough headroom to support high frame rates without limiting performance.

At 1440p, the GPU load increases. The frame rate scaling is more dramatic, with Low at 90.1 FPS and Ultra at 44.4 FPS. The difference between High (59.7 FPS) and Medium (70 FPS) is notable, suggesting that the GPU is struggling to maintain 60 FPS at higher presets. The CPU, with its strong multi-threaded performance, does not appear to be a limiting factor here.

At 4K, the GPU becomes the dominant bottleneck. The frame rates are consistently low across all settings, from 48.5 FPS on Low to 26.8 FPS on Ultra. This pattern shows that the GPU's raw processing power is insufficient for this resolution, regardless of the CPU's capability. The CPU's role diminishes as resolution increases because the GPU takes longer to render each frame, making its performance the sole determinant of frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested hardware combinations for The Technomancer, this pairing of the Intel Core i7-13700K and Intel Arc B580 holds a rank of 2827 out of 3696 combos. This places it in the lower-middle portion of all tested systems. It is important to note that this rank is a relative measure; it does not reflect absolute playability. The system is perfectly capable of running the game at 1080p and 1440p, but it is outclassed by many other combinations that can achieve higher frame rates or better performance at 4K.

The rank of 2827 suggests that while the individual components are strong, their combination is not optimized for this specific game's engine. The Arc B580's performance in The Technomancer is a significant factor, as the game's engine may favor other GPU architectures. The CPU's high benchmark scores do not translate into higher rankings when paired with this GPU, underscoring that the graphics card is the primary determinant for this game's performance.