The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting test for the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and AMD Radeon RX 9070 pairing. The benchmark data shows this combination achieves a strong balance, but with clear trade-offs between visual fidelity and frame rate. The RX 9070 provides the raw graphical muscle, while the Ryzen 5 3600 ensures the system never becomes the bottleneck, making this a versatile setup for a game that scales well across different hardware configurations.

FAQ

Q: What is the overall performance rank of this CPU and GPU combo in The Technomancer?

A: This specific combination ranks 603 out of 1656 tested combos in the game's database, placing it in the upper-middle tier of all possible pairings.

Q: Does the Ryzen 5 3600 hold back the RX 9070 in this game?

A: No. The 6-core, 12-thread processor with a boost clock of 4.20 GHz provides sufficient processing power. At 1080p Ultra settings, the combo achieves 113.2 FPS, and at 1440p Ultra it reaches 70.9 FPS, showing the GPU is the primary driver of performance even at lower resolutions.

Q: How much of a performance difference is there between Low and Ultra settings?

A: The gap is substantial. At 1080p, the average frame rate drops from 186.1 FPS on Low to 113.2 FPS on Ultra, a difference of 72.9 FPS. At 4K, the drop is from 77.6 FPS on Low to 39.9 FPS on Ultra, a difference of 37.7 FPS.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in The Technomancer?

A: Yes, but with limitations. At 4K with High settings, the combo produces an average of 53.9 FPS, which is playable. However, pushing to Ultra settings brings the average down to 39.9 FPS, which is below the typically preferred 60 FPS target.

Q: Is the RX 9070's 16 GB of VRAM necessary for this game?

A: The game benefits from the ample memory, but it is not a limiting factor. The RX 9070's 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus with 644.6 GB/s bandwidth ensures that texture loading and memory allocation are never a concern, even at 4K Ultra.

Q: How does the CPU's benchmark score compare to its closest rivals?

A: The Ryzen 5 3600 has an average benchmark score of 18129. This puts it statistically tied with the Intel Core i5-11400, which has a score of 18150 and is only 0.1% faster. It is also virtually identical to the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS, which is just 0.2% slower.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and AMD Radeon RX 9070 secures the 603rd position out of 1656 tested combos for The Technomancer. This places it in the 64th percentile, meaning it outperforms nearly two-thirds of all other pairings tested. This is a solid result for a mid-generation CPU paired with a modern high-end GPU. The ranking suggests that while the CPU is not new, its capabilities are more than adequate for this specific game, allowing the GPU to perform to its potential. For context, the Ryzen 5 3600's average benchmark score of 18129 puts it in the 76th percentile of all CPUs, and the RX 9070's average score of 34780 places it in the 79th percentile of all GPUs, confirming that neither component is a weak link in this pairing.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 is the primary driver of frame rates in The Technomancer. Its high throughput, with a boost clock of 2520 MHz and a game clock of 2070 MHz, allows it to push the game's engine to its limits. The 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus provides a substantial 644.6 GB/s of bandwidth. This is more than sufficient for the game's textures and assets, ensuring that even at 4K resolution, the GPU is not stalled waiting for data. The card's 3584 shading units and 128 ROPs handle the game's visual effects and rasterization duties efficiently. The data reflects this capability, with the GPU producing a massive 186.1 FPS average at 1080p Low settings. Even when the graphical load is increased at 4K High, it still maintains a respectable 53.9 FPS average, demonstrating that the GPU's architecture is well-suited for the game's demands.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and predictable scaling pattern across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers high frame rates across the board. The average FPS ranges from 186.1 on Low to 113.2 on Ultra. The jump from Medium (168.4 FPS) to High (143.5 FPS) is a noticeable 24.9 FPS drop, while the step from High to Ultra is a further 30.3 FPS reduction. This shows that the Ultra preset is significantly more demanding.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong. The average FPS spans from 142.8 on Low to 70.9 on Ultra. The transition from High (95.8 FPS) to Ultra (70.9 FPS) is a substantial 24.9 FPS drop, indicating that the Ultra preset at 1440p places a heavy load on the GPU. The 1080p to 1440p resolution increase costs roughly 40 FPS at the High settings tier (143.5 to 95.8 FPS).

At 3840x2160, the system begins to show its limits, particularly with the more demanding presets. The average FPS ranges from 77.6 on Low to 39.9 on Ultra. The High preset yields an average of 53.9 FPS, which is just below the 60 FPS target many players prefer. The Medium preset achieves 59.3 FPS, making it the highest quality setting that can maintain a frame rate close to 60 FPS at this resolution. The data shows a clear pattern: the cost of enabling Ultra is roughly a 26% reduction in frame rate compared to High at 4K (53.9 to 39.9 FPS).

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 3600, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, provides a solid foundation for this gaming system. Its base clock of 3.60 GHz and boost clock of 4.20 GHz are sufficient for the demands of The Technomancer. The processor's performance in synthetic benchmarks, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15045 and a single-core score of 2124, indicates it can handle both the game's main thread and background tasks without issue. The CPU's 32 MB of shared L3 cache helps reduce latency, which is beneficial for gaming. The fact that the combo ranks in the 64th percentile suggests that the CPU is not a limiting factor; if it were, we would expect to see the frame rates at lower resolutions (1080p) be much closer to each other regardless of settings. Instead, we see a significant variation from 186.1 FPS on Low to 113.2 FPS on Ultra at 1080p, proving the GPU is the performance bottleneck. The Ryzen 5 3600's average benchmark score of 18129 is nearly identical to its closest rivals, including the Intel Core i5-11400 which is only 0.1% faster, confirming its competitive standing.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and refresh rate. For players with a 1080p 144Hz monitor, the High preset is the best choice, delivering an average of 143.5 FPS. This offers a great balance between visual quality and performance, staying well above the 144 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset at 1080p (113.2 FPS) is also viable if visual fidelity is the top priority, but the performance drop is noticeable.

For 1440p displays, the High preset is again the recommended starting point, with an average of 95.8 FPS. This provides a smooth experience for 60Hz and most 100Hz+ monitors. The Medium preset (111.8 FPS) is a solid fallback for those seeking higher frame rates, while the Ultra preset (70.9 FPS) is best reserved for players who prioritize image quality over maximum frame rate and have a 60Hz or 75Hz display.

At 4K, the choice is more constrained. The Medium preset, with an average of 59.3 FPS, is the sweet spot for a 60Hz display, offering a playable experience with a good level of detail. The High preset (53.9 FPS) is also viable but will not consistently hit 60 FPS. The Ultra preset (39.9 FPS) should be avoided unless the user is willing to accept a console-like frame rate. In summary, the data suggests that the High preset is the most versatile, offering a strong balance of performance and visual quality across all three resolutions, with Medium serving as a reliable high-frame-rate alternative at 4K and 1440p.