The Technomancer

The Intel Core i9-14900K (launch MSRP $589) paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 (launch MSRP $999) is a high-end desktop combination that comfortably handles The Technomancer across all tested resolutions. Benchmark data shows the combo ranks 142nd out of 3,696 tested configurations, with the CPU in the 95th percentile of all CPUs and the GPU in the 87th percentile of all GPUs. At 4K, the system delivers 74 FPS on High settings, while at 1440p and 1080p it exceeds 100 FPS even on Ultra, making it a strong performer for this 2016 action RPG.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i9-14900K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 achieves a rank of 142 out of 3,696 tested combos for The Technomancer. This places it in the upper tier of all tested systems, though not at the very top. The CPU’s percentile standing is higher than the GPU’s: the i9-14900K sits in the 95th percentile among all CPUs, while the RTX 5080 is in the 87th percentile among all GPUs. That gap suggests the processor is relatively stronger than the graphics card within this pairing, but both components are well above average.

The measured FPS data reinforces this ranking. At 1080p with Ultra settings, the combo produces 161.9 FPS, and at 1440p Ultra it still manages 102.4 FPS. Even at 4K Ultra, the system falls just short of the 60 FPS threshold, posting 56.2 FPS. The rank of 142 out of 3,696 indicates that a small number of combos outperform this one, but the overwhelming majority of tested systems cannot match its frame rates, especially at higher resolutions.

CPU and GPU Roles

The scaling of FPS across resolutions and presets reveals how the workload shifts between CPU and GPU. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 312.7 FPS, which is an extremely high frame rate that likely exceeds the refresh rate of most displays. At 1080p High, the frame rate drops to 206.4 FPS, and at Ultra it falls to 161.9 FPS. The reduction from Low to Ultra at 1080p is 150.8 FPS, a 48% decrease. This pattern indicates that even at the lowest resolution, the graphics settings have a substantial impact, pointing to the GPU as a primary factor.

At 1440p, the same trend continues but with lower absolute numbers: Low yields 208.1 FPS, High 137.3 FPS, and Ultra 102.4 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra is 105.7 FPS, again a large margin. At 4K, the gap narrows in absolute terms: Low produces 111.7 FPS, High 74 FPS, and Ultra 56.2 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 55.5 FPS, which is proportionally similar to the 1080p drop. This consistency suggests that the GPU is the dominant bottleneck at all resolutions, as the CPU’s performance headroom is more than sufficient to feed the GPU.

The CPU’s benchmark scores support this interpretation. The i9-14900K scores 39,399.5 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2,262.5 in single-core, with a Passmark multithread score of 58,674. These are top-tier results, placing it in the 95th percentile. Given that frame rates scale so strongly with resolution and settings, the data indicates that the GPU is the limiting component in this combo for The Technomancer. The CPU’s role is to maintain high minimum frame rates and prevent bottlenecks, and its performance is more than adequate for this title.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Based on average benchmark scores, the nearest rivals to the Intel Core i9-14900K are the Intel Core i9-14900KF (average score 79,371, delta -0.3%), the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus (79,574, -0.6%), the AMD EPYC 7413 (80,041, -1.2%), and the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 (77,740, +1.7%). The negative delta values for the first three indicate that the i9-14900K is slightly slower than those chips, while the positive delta for the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 means the i9-14900K is 1.7% faster. In practice, any of these CPUs would deliver nearly identical frame rates in The Technomancer, as the game is not particularly CPU-intensive.

For the GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080’s nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon 8060S (average score 55,757, delta 0.6%), the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB (55,698, 0.7%), the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X (54,828, 2.3%), and the AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE (57,367, -2.2%). Here, positive deltas mean the RTX 5080 is faster than the first three rivals, while the RX 9070 GRE is 2.2% faster. Swapping the RTX 5080 for any of these GPUs would change frame rates by less than 3% in aggregate benchmark scores, though actual game performance can vary. For The Technomancer, the differences would be modest—likely a few FPS at most—so these alternatives represent viable substitutes with similar behavior.

The Verdict

Yes, this PC can run The Technomancer with strong performance. According to the verdict by resolution, at 3840x2160 the playable settings are High, Low, and Medium, with High delivering 74 FPS. Ultra at 4K is not playable because it drops to 56.2 FPS, just below the 60 FPS threshold. At 2560x1440, all four settings—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—are playable, with Ultra achieving 102.4 FPS. At 1920x1080, every setting is playable, and Ultra reaches 161.9 FPS. The system therefore clears 60 FPS at every resolution except 4K Ultra, and even that setting is only 3.8 FPS short.

The measured FPS data is based on actual testing, so these numbers reflect real-world performance. The combo ranks 142nd out of 3,696 tested combos, indicating that it outperforms the vast majority of systems for this game. For users targeting 60 FPS, the system meets that goal at all resolutions with the right settings. At 1440p and below, the headroom is substantial, allowing for high refresh rate displays.

FAQ

Q: What is the combo’s rank among all tested configurations for The Technomancer?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900K + RTX 5080 combo ranks 142nd out of 3,696 tested combos.

Q: Can this system run The Technomancer at 4K with 60 FPS?

A: Yes, but only on High, Medium, or Low settings. High yields 74 FPS, Medium 85.8 FPS, and Low 111.7 FPS. Ultra at 4K falls to 56.2 FPS, below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: What is the best setting at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, Ultra settings are playable and produce 102.4 FPS, making it the most demanding preset that stays above 60 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival?

A: The i9-14900K is 0.3% slower than the i9-14900KF, 0.6% slower than the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus, and 1.2% slower than the EPYC 7413, but 1.7% faster than the Ryzen AI Max+ 395.

Q: What GPU alternatives offer similar performance?

A: The RTX 5080 is 0.6% faster than the Radeon 8060S, 0.7% faster than the RX 6750 GRE 12 GB, and 2.3% faster than the Pro W5700X, but 2.2% slower than the RX 9070 GRE.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU limit performance in this game?

A: The data shows that frame rates scale strongly with resolution and graphics settings, indicating the GPU is the primary constraint. The CPU’s high benchmark scores (95th percentile) suggest it is not a bottleneck.

Best Settings per Resolution

For each resolution, the most demanding preset that maintains at least 60 FPS is as follows:

• 3840x2160 (4K): High settings — 74 FPS average. Ultra is not playable because it drops to 56.2 FPS.
• 2560x1440 (1440p): Ultra settings — 102.4 FPS average. All presets exceed 60 FPS, but Ultra is the highest.
• 1920x1080 (1080p): Ultra settings — 161.9 FPS average. All presets are playable, with Ultra delivering the best visual quality while still far above 60 FPS.

These settings represent the highest quality option that stays at or above the 60 FPS playability threshold. At 4K, High is the recommended ceiling, while at 1440p and 1080p, Ultra is fully playable with ample headroom.