The Technomancer

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i7-14700K paired with the Intel Arc B390 ranks 3285 out of 3696 tested combos in The Technomancer, placing it in the bottom 11% of the database. This is a deeply underwhelming position for a system built around a flagship-class CPU. The bottleneck is almost entirely the GPU, which sits in the 9th percentile of all GPUs tested. The Arc B390's average benchmark score of 1482 puts it just 1.3% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and 2.7% ahead of the GT 710, which are legacy entry-level parts. In a 2016 Action RPG, this combo lands near the bottom of the pile, and the data confirms that 60 FPS is only reachable at 1080p with medium or lower settings.

The CPU itself is far more capable. The i7-14700K scores in the 94th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 69355. Its nearest rivals in the database are the AMD EPYC 9115 at 69288 (0.1% behind), the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X at 69515 (0.2% ahead), the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX at 69875 (0.7% ahead), and the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F at 69996 (0.9% ahead). The processor is not the limiting factor here.

CPU and GPU Roles

In The Technomancer, the GPU is the dominant constraint at every resolution. The Arc B390's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482 is the only GPU benchmark recorded, and it sits far below what the game demands for smooth frame rates. The CPU's compute advantages, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 33440.5 and a single-core score of 2160, do not translate into playable frame rates because the rendering workload overwhelms the graphics processor.

Resolution scaling shows the GPU's limitations clearly. At 1080p Low, the combo averages 79 FPS. Dropping to 1440p Low reduces the average to 52 FPS, a 34% decline. At 4K Low, the average falls to 28 FPS, a 65% decline from 1080p Low. These are massive frame rate drops for a single resolution step, which indicates the GPU is running out of pixel throughput and memory bandwidth. The Arc B390's memory is system shared, with bandwidth listed as system dependent, so it cannot sustain high-resolution rendering.

Preset scaling reinforces the same conclusion. At 1080p, moving from Low to Medium costs 18 FPS (79 to 61), from Medium to High costs 9 FPS (61 to 52), and from High to Ultra costs 12 FPS (52 to 40). The CPU has enough headroom to handle these settings changes, but the GPU cannot keep up. At 1440p, the gap between Low and Ultra is 26 FPS (52 to 26), and at 4K, the gap is 13 FPS (28 to 15). The pattern is consistent: the GPU is the binding constraint, and the CPU's role is secondary throughout.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, no preset reaches 60 FPS. The highest average is 28 FPS at Low, which is far below the playable threshold. The verdict list confirms no playable settings at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the situation is identical. No preset reaches 60 FPS. The best average is 52 FPS at Low, still 8 FPS short of the playable threshold. The verdict list shows no playable settings at this resolution.

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Medium, with an average of 61 FPS. Low also clears the threshold at 79 FPS, but Medium is the highest preset that remains playable. High falls to 52 FPS, and Ultra drops to 40 FPS, both below 60. The recorded best settings for 1080p is Medium with an average of 61 FPS, and the playable settings list includes both Low and Medium.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run The Technomancer at 4K?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the highest average frame rate is 28 FPS at Low settings. Medium averages 22 FPS, High averages 19 FPS, and Ultra averages 15 FPS. None of these approach the 60 FPS playable threshold, and the verdict list marks no settings as playable at this resolution.

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

A: Medium is the highest preset that stays at or above 60 FPS at 1920x1080, with an average of 61 FPS. Low also qualifies at 79 FPS, but Medium is the most demanding playable option.

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

A: At Low settings, the average drops from 79 FPS at 1080p to 52 FPS at 1440p, a 27 FPS loss. At Medium, the drop is from 61 FPS to 40 FPS, a 21 FPS loss. At High, the drop is from 52 FPS to 34 FPS, an 18 FPS loss. At Ultra, the drop is from 40 FPS to 26 FPS, a 14 FPS loss.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-14700K the bottleneck in this combo?

A: No. The CPU ranks in the 94th percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 69355, putting it within 1% of the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X and AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX. The GPU ranks in the 9th percentile, and the frame rate data shows the GPU is the limiting factor at every resolution and preset.

Q: What are the minimum and maximum frame rates at 1080p Medium?

A: At 1920x1080 Medium, the average is 61 FPS, with a minimum of 52 FPS and a maximum of 70 FPS. The minimum dips below the 60 FPS threshold, but the average stays playable.

Q: How does the Arc B390 compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The Arc B390 scores 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. It is 1.3% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463), 1.5% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce 800M (1460), 2.5% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM (1446), and 2.7% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 (1443). These are all entry-level or legacy GPUs, and the Arc B390 only marginally outperforms them.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the recorded averages are 28 FPS at Low, 22 FPS at Medium, 19 FPS at High, and 15 FPS at Ultra. The only preset with min and max values recorded is Medium, which shows a minimum of 19 FPS and a maximum of 25 FPS. The other presets have no min or max values in the data.

At 2560x1440, the averages are 52 FPS at Low, 40 FPS at Medium, 34 FPS at High, and 26 FPS at Ultra. Medium is the only preset with min and max values, showing a minimum of 34 FPS and a maximum of 46 FPS. Low, High, and Ultra have no recorded min or max values.

At 1920x1080, the averages are 79 FPS at Low, 61 FPS at Medium, 52 FPS at High, and 40 FPS at Ultra. Medium is again the only preset with min and max values, showing a minimum of 52 FPS and a maximum of 70 FPS. Low, High, and Ultra have no recorded min or max values.

The data shows a consistent pattern: the Arc B390 loses roughly 25% to 35% of its average frame rate at each resolution step up, and each preset increase costs between 9 and 18 FPS depending on resolution. The system never reaches 60 FPS at 1440p or 4K, and at 1080p it only clears the threshold at Low and Medium.

The Verdict

This PC can run The Technomancer, but only under strict conditions. At 1920x1080, the system is playable at Low with 79 FPS and Medium with 61 FPS. The verdict list confirms these two settings as playable, with Medium marked as the best settings at an average of 61 FPS. High at 52 FPS and Ultra at 40 FPS are not playable.

At 2560x1440, the system cannot maintain 60 FPS at any preset. Low averages 52 FPS, Medium averages 40 FPS, High averages 34 FPS, and Ultra averages 26 FPS. The verdict list marks no settings as playable at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the system is far from playable. Low averages 28 FPS, Medium averages 22 FPS, High averages 19 FPS, and Ultra averages 15 FPS. No settings are playable at this resolution.

The CPU is not the problem. The i7-14700K is a top-tier processor, sitting in the 94th percentile with an average benchmark score of 69355, essentially tied with the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X. The GPU is the limiting factor. The Arc B390's 9th percentile ranking and its close proximity to GPUs like the GT 710 and GT 520MX in benchmark scores make it unsuitable for demanding resolutions in this game. For a 1080p Medium experience at 61 FPS, this combo works. For anything above that, it falls short.